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Daniel Keene put the post during Ganesh procession sparks backlash
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Keene, owner of Boundaries Coffee, faces boycotts, church expulsion, and public outrage over remarks deemed xenophobic
A 30-year-old Texas businessman, Daniel Keene, who owns Boundaries Coffee in suburban Dallas, is facing intense criticism, expulsion from his church, and significant business losses after posting a controversial video on X (formerly Twitter) in early September, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
In the now-deleted post, Keene shared a video—reportedly filmed by his wife—showing a Ganesh Chaturthi procession passing through their neighborhood. Alongside the clip, he wrote:
“We have to cancel the H-1Bs. I want my kids to grow up in America. Not India.”
The comment, widely condemned as xenophobic and intolerant, quickly went viral, prompting a wave of criticism from Indian American communities, local residents, and social media users nationwide.
Following the backlash, Keene’s café, Boundaries Coffee, became the target of boycotts, and he was reportedly expelled from his local church and gym. Keene later claimed he received extortion threats amid the controversy but refused to apologize, arguing that his remarks were intended to raise concerns about U.S. immigration policy, not to insult any community.
Keene’s post on Ganesh Chaturthi procession triggers outrage and boycotts across Texas
Businessman alleges unfair expulsion and lack of transparency from church elders.
In a series of follow-up posts on X after his removal from the church, Keene described a lengthy and contentious process with church elders, alleging that he endured over seven hours of questioning about his social media activity.
Keene stated that during a two-hour meeting on September 24, seven elders and one staff member “told me to leave the church in a dozen different ways.” He said he had offered to step down from leadership roles but requested to remain a regular member—an appeal that was denied.
He further claimed that the church elders refused to consider testimonials from his Indian friends and ignored his request for a written explanation of what sin or offense he was being disciplined for.
“I feel very strongly that I would like the elders to communicate in writing the exact issue at hand and the sin I’m being called to repent of,” Keene wrote, “so as to avoid hearsay and division.”
The church has not issued a public statement on the matter. Meanwhile, local media report that Boundaries Coffee has suffered notable customer losses and online backlash following the viral incident.
