Mindvalley CEO Vishen Lakhiani's Troubling Encounter with FBI at Miami Airport
Vishen Lakhiani, the prominent Indian-Malaysian CEO behind the globally recognized personal transformation platform, Mindvalley, recently shared a disquieting experience from his arrival at Miami airport. Despite his well-established status – holding an O-1 visa for individuals of extraordinary ability, a consistent US taxpayer for over two decades, and leading an American company with 230 international employees – Lakhiani found himself detained and questioned by FBI agents immediately upon stepping off his plane.
An Unexpected Interrogation
Lakhiani, who boasts an estimated net worth of $40 million and founded Mindvalley after discovering meditation to combat startup stress, recounted the details of the interrogation in a widely circulated video. Agents reportedly probed his travel history, specifically inquiring about his visits to cities like Istanbul, Dubai, and Brazil. Furthermore, they requested access to his social media accounts and his WhatsApp number.
While Lakhiani emphasized that the agents maintained a polite demeanor and were "just doing their jobs," he candidly described the encounter as "scary." This unexpected scrutiny, he confessed, left him with a palpable sense of dread about future travel to the United States.
Critique of US Immigration Climate
The incident prompted Lakhiani to voice a broader critique of the current socio-political environment in the US. He characterized the prevailing mood as "crazy fearmongering" and highlighted the "sheer amount of xenophobia" increasingly directed towards immigrants and individuals from foreign nations. He pointed to tangible evidence of this climate's negative impact, citing a 15% decline in US tourism and an alarming nearly 20% drop in foreign student applications to American universities.
Lakhiani attributed these concerning trends to a political strategy he believes is designed to garner votes through fear. He asserted that "men with no idea on how to navigate the future are vilifying anyone who looks different" by "pressing the fear button" as the "easiest way to gain votes when you have no talent."
A Call for American Values
In his video, Lakhiani issued a strong appeal to American citizens, urging them to critically evaluate political candidates. He encouraged them to "identify candidates that actually align with American values" such as "freedom, democracy, pro-immigration, entrepreneurship, diversity." Mindvalley, his company, remains dedicated to fostering personal transformation and advocating for reforms in education, embodying many of the progressive values Lakhiani champions.
