Asian-Americans in San Leandro, California have reported finding xenophobic and threatening letters at their homes telling them to leave the country.
Similar letters have also been found posted on trees and in other public places around the community.
"You, because we consider you're a stranger, one bad person for this country, leave, go far away, go back to your country, the place you belong," read one of the letters, riddled with grammatical errors.
"Leave this place. You have until the day May 23, 2020, Saturday 10:30 am to leave this country place, no Asians allowed. My country USA."
San Leandro police arrested a 52-year-old woman for allegedly distributing the letters and have urged anyone continuing to receive threatening letters to come forward.
Police said the woman, who has since been released, had a backpack full of similar notes when they found her.
"San Leandro Police Department investigated a similar incident on Thursday evening when a related note was found on the Heron Bay trail, affixed to an information board," a police statement said.
"That note partially read, 'no Asians allowed, leave immediately'. That post was quickly removed by a good samaritan and discarded."
One woman whose family had received a similar letter told ABC America said she feared the authorities were not taking increased anti-Asian xenophobia during the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
These letters were found posted to the homes of Asian Americans in one California community. Source: Twitter 'tiffvo'
"It was shocking and the whole family was really shaken up at it," she said.
"I can't comprehend hatefulness. Reading this letter [sends] chills down my spine."
Spikes in racist incidents targeting people of Asian background have been reported around the world during the pandemic, including in Australia.
