Right-Wing Accounts Target Indians in US

Hyderabad: A growing number of right-wing social media accounts and online communities is targeting immigrants, particularly those from India in the United States, with hostile rhetoric, misinformation and coordinated hate campaigns.

In recent months, especially after US President Donald Trump took office, Indian professionals have seen a surge in posts accusing them of “taking over” jobs and misusing visa programmes, especially the widely used H-1B work visa. Much of this hate originates from loosely organised online groups and influencers, who portray themselves as “vigilantes” defending American workers.

Social media platforms have become a key battleground for these narratives. The accounts spread videos of Indian workers in the United States, call their work “scams” and allege their work to be violating the H-1B norms. Such incidents frequently trigger waves of online abuse directed at Indian workers, with several people questioning their legitimacy and calling for stricter immigration controls.

Influencers and content creators have produced videos and posts alleging widespread fraud among Indian immigrants, often with little to no evidence. One widely shared documentary-style video by an influencer targeted Indian communities in Texas and suggested illegal activity, prompting backlash from viewers and experts who pointed out inaccuracies.

V. Ramesh, a US-based Telugu organisation’s general secretary, said: “Some of the accounts actually go very far to hurt a person or their life. They report to the employers, reveal their personal details online, doxx them and even file complaints with USCIS and ICE.”

“We recently filed a complaint with the police in Arizona about one of these influencers who attacked an Indian while taking a vlog. We submitted the CCTV footage too, where the man kept repeating ‘Go back to your curry-land’ and suddenly attempted to punch the victim. Police are currently investigating the matter”, Ramesh added.

In the city of Frisco, Texas, several people entered the city’s council meeting wearing “Make America Great Again” hats, and began alleging an “Indian takeover” of the city in February.

Local reports stated that they alleged, without evidence, that Indians were committing visa fraud and stealing jobs from Americans, and were taking over the city. Residents speaking with the media said that social media posts had amplified suspicion and hostility towards Indian-origin families in the area.

Major American companies employing Indian professionals have also come under attack. Firms such as FedEx and Walmart, among others, have faced boycott calls and online campaigns for hiring foreign workers under legal visa programmes.

Experts say the rhetoric is closely tied to broader political debates around immigration and employment.

“The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers. But this has long been controversial. Right-wing commentators often claim that it is used to replace American workers with cheaper labour, even though those visa holders fill specialised roles in sectors such as technology and are behind the tech which they use on a day-to-day basis”, said Rajeswar Rao, an immigration analyst.

“Many groups online purposefully highlight certain facts and hide certain facts, and misinform people into thinking Indians on H-1B and other visas are killing their employability. They use that misinformation to fuel anti-immigrant sentiment online,” he said.