Why Far-Right Target Indian Immigrants: Scapegoats and Stereotypes

Far-right activists are stepping up campaigns against Indian immigrants across Western countries, turning routine debates over employment, visas, and public services into charged culture wars. The latest spike, seen in late 2024 and into 2025, blends online hate, street harassment, and political pressure for tighter rules on skilled workers. Researchers tracking extremist narratives say the pattern is clear: economic scapegoating, racial slurs, and conspiracy claims now target Indians with intensity not seen in prior years, especially in the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦.

Civil society monitors report that anti-Indian abuse surged after the 2024 U.S. election and ahead of Canada’s 2025 federal vote. In the U.S., trackers noted a 66% rise in anti-South Asian slurs and threats following the election, with 75% of slurs directed at South Asians in December 2024 and January 2025. In Canada, over 2,300 anti-South Asian posts produced 1.2 million engagements ahead of the April 2025 campaign period, a social media wave that echoed street incidents and official hate-crime data. Analysts say far-right networks are driving the escalation, using claims about jobs, housing, and crime to rally supporters and push for strict visa policies.

Scope and Targets

Indian immigrants are not new to public debate, but the focus today is sharper and more hostile. Far-right figures claim Indians “displace American workers,” a talking point aimed at tech and high-skilled roles. The data do not back this up.

• In the U.S. tech workforce, White Americans hold about 62% of jobs, while Asian Americans, including Indians, hold around 20%.
• Companies recruit during labor shortages, and visa rules already cap entries and set strict employer duties.
• Still, viral clips, speeches, and social platforms fold normal labor competition into narratives of national decline.

Advocates emphasize that this framing ignores basic labor-market dynamics: automation, management decisions, and cyclical hiring trends often play larger roles than immigrant hiring.

Rhetoric, Myths, and Online Mobilization

The machinery of far-right messaging leans on three pillars:

1. Economic scapegoating — Blaming Indian workers for layoffs and wage pressure despite broader market forces.
2. Crude stereotypes — Descriptors such as “uncivilized” or allegations of gaming visa systems that normalize abuse.
3. Conspiracy claims — Theories like the “Great Replacement” that suggest elites are replacing White populations with non-White immigrants.

Researchers say this mix keeps audiences angry and engaged. These patterns play out across borders:

• In Canada, far-right accounts pin the housing crunch on Indian immigrants, while economists point to long-standing supply gaps, zoning limits, and infrastructure shortfalls.
• In Ireland, a string of assaults on Indians in mid-2025 showed how online hate can spill into streets.
• In the U.S., campaigns targeted high-profile Indian-origin technologists and appointees, framing their roles as betrayals of “America First,” and activism surged after high-visibility appointments linked to the Trump circle.

Community leaders report immediate, personal effects: parents change school routes, renters decline apartments in certain neighborhoods, and small businesses add cameras and panic buttons. Indian students across North America and Europe report higher stress, more online harassment, and practical worries about work permits and campus safety.

“This is not random noise,” say civil rights monitors. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue and other groups warn that 26,600 anti-South Asian slur posts in Canada between 2023–2025—a 1,350% jump—signal a sustained campaign. Stop AAPI Hate continues to track cases across the U.S. and urges reporting to local hate-crime units.

Policy Pressure and Real-World Effects

Political actors on the far-right are pushing for tougher visa controls. The H-1B, which allows U.S. employers to hire specialty workers, is a frequent target of calls to shrink caps or add barriers.

• Employers must file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, often by submitting Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker).
• Companies must meet wage rules, posting duties, and other checks; the cap-based H-1B selection process limits access.
• Official program information is available on the USCIS H-1B page: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations. The Form I-129 details are at https://www.uscis.gov/i-129.

Despite these guardrails, far-right messaging often portrays the visa system as loose and prone to abuse. Policy researchers counter that the U.S. system is among the most rule-bound globally, with background checks, deadlines, and significant employer costs. Analysis by VisaVerge.com shows these narratives spike during election seasons and major tech layoffs, suggesting political timing rather than evidence-based concerns.

In Canada, Indians are blamed for pressures on health care and transport, though provincial reports tie delays to staffing shortages and outdated systems. Hate crimes against South Asians in Canada have risen by over 227% from 2019 to 2023, and the April 2025 election brought a new spike in posts, often from accounts that also share anti-refugee and anti-Muslim content.

Police and community responses include:

• “Know your rights” trainings and neighborhood outreach to improve reporting.
• Police urging targets to contact dedicated hate-crime units and keep records (including screenshots of threats).
• Local investigations and, in some cases, harsher sentences in violent hate-crime cases.

Geopolitical Context and Community Impact

The wider geopolitical mood shapes diaspora experiences. Rights groups report rising hate crimes and speech against minorities in India, which can fuel cross-border tension and propaganda. Far-right accounts sometimes cite events in India to stir anger against immigrants, alleging they bring foreign political conflicts with them.

For families and workers, the stakes are high:

• Parents fear school bullying; students fear random attacks after late-night study sessions.
• New hires worry a visa program may be cut midstream, jeopardizing work or status.
• Mental health professionals report stress, insomnia, and social withdrawal among clients exposed to daily hate posts or workplace slurs.

Lawmakers and agencies face trade-offs between security and speech. Hate-crime statutes vary by country, and enforcement can lag behind online abuse. Advocates push for practical steps:

• Better reporting pipelines to police and civil rights bodies, with multilingual options.
• Faster content moderation agreements with platforms during election windows.
• Clear communication from immigration agencies so rumor and fear do not fill information gaps.

Researchers note that banning individual accounts rarely ends the spread—new handles emerge and networks migrate to private channels.

Workplace Dynamics and Legal Details

The far-right message targets workplaces, using moments like the 2023–2024 tech layoffs to claim H-1B workers were retained while citizens were cut. Labor economists dispute this narrative:

• Layoffs tend to affect contractors and whole teams, driven by internal cost centers.
• Visa layoffs carry extra legal steps that may delay but not prevent job losses.
• Employers hiring H-1B workers must petition via I-129, pay fees, and meet wage and posting duties, inviting audits and legal risks if mishandled.

These legal and administrative details undercut the idea of a seamless, unchecked pipeline replacing local workers.

Practical Advice for Indian Immigrants

Community organizers recommend concrete protective actions:

• Report threats and assaults to local hate-crime units and keep evidence (screenshots, logs).
• Use campus and employer channels for safety escorts, counseling, and incident reporting.
• Stay informed through official immigration pages to avoid rumor-driven panic about visa rules.
• Connect with advocacy groups such as Stop AAPI Hate and local Indian associations for support and referrals.

Legal practitioners advise: know the rules, document everything, and seek help early. For employment-based cases in the U.S., a proper filing—often centered on the Form I-129—remains the pathway when a job offer is firm.

Outlook and Pushback

Experts warn the months ahead could bring more pressure as political calendars heat up. U.S. debates over skilled immigration—whether to expand, hold steady, or restrict—will continue. In Canada, migration is a core ballot issue, and past cycles suggest online hate will jump as campaigns intensify.

There is also active pushback:

• Tech executives, university leaders, and mayors in cities with large Indian populations are increasingly speaking out.
• Faith leaders and police chiefs host town halls on reporting and community safety.
• School districts add digital-safety lessons to prevent teenagers from amplifying slurs and misinformation.

Ultimately, while harassment and fear are real and damaging, policy—not propaganda—governs who receives study or work authorization. The advice to Indian immigrants remains practical: document incidents, stay informed about immigration rules, and seek support early.