As immigration becomes one of the most polarizing political topics in the United States, a fiery post from Marine Corps veteran John Slaughter has ignited fresh debate about the country’s immigration priorities and drawn sharp comparisons with Canada’s deepening migration crisis.
Slaughter, identifying himself as a U.S. Marine veteran, called for a “complete shutdown to all Indian immigration,” claiming that Indian migrants are “weaponizing civil rights law” and “using ethnic nepotism to dominate industries,” while resharing a post on X. He alleged that Indian American business owners have already cornered sectors such as motels, convenience stores, and trucking and are now moving into technology.
“None of this benefits Americans in any capacity,” Slaughter wrote. “If this isn’t stopped, we will end up like Canada.”
His words were quick to gain attention on social media with the post receiving around 198,300 views, and his reference to Canada seems to have struck a nerve with netizens. North of the U.S. border, Canada is grappling with public frustration over record immigration levels, a housing shortage, and an economy struggling to absorb an unprecedented influx of newcomers.
The Canadian government announced in October 2024 a new immigration plan, titled “Immigration Levels Plan 2025-27,” aiming to reduce the number of new permanent resident (PR) admissions — a target of 395,000 PR admissions in 2025 — and introduces targets to bring the temporary resident population to ~5 % of the total by end of 2026.
Public opinion in Canada shows increasing concern about high levels of immigration: For instance, one source says that for the first time in 25 years a “clear majority” of Canadians believe there is too much immigration.
Slaughter’s outburst on Indian immigration came after Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, an American lawyer and Republican Party official serving as the U.S. assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division has shared a post on X.
Dhillon weighed in with sharp criticism of California’s licensing policies. Referring to recent fatal trucking accidents involving undocumented Indian drivers Harjinder Singh and Jashanpreet Singh, Dhillon said the incidents highlight the dangers of allowing individuals without legal status to operate commercial vehicles.
She stated: “Many of you have probably seen the news in the last few months of two illegal aliens causing horrific tragedies on American roadways while behind the wheel of large commercial trucks. These individuals obtained commercial driver’s licenses in California due to the State’s absurd coddling of illegal aliens, putting all drivers and their occupants on the roads at risk. There are thousands of these instances.’’
Seeking to reassure the public, Dhillon added that discussions were already underway with Secretary Duffy to tighten regulations. “This should never have happened,” she said. “We’re taking steps to end these risks and keep our highways safer. It’s also critical that all drivers can read and communicate in English — that’s a basic requirement for public safety.”
While demanding accountability for the recent fatal crashes, Dhillon also urged Americans not to conflate the actions of a few with the values of an entire community. She emphasized that law-abiding Sikhs and Indian Americans form an integral part of the nation’s social and economic fabric.
“Many of them are hardworking, patriotic, and committed to the rule of law,” Dhillon said, underscoring that mostly immigrated through legal channels. “They are our neighbors, our colleagues, and small business owners who contribute meaningfully to the American dream.”
Dhillon stressed that these individuals should not be held accountable for the actions of a few reckless drivers, calling instead for a fair and lawful process to address the incidents. “It is illegal under federal law to discriminate against individuals or attack or violently threaten them because of their race, color, religion, or national origin. The @CivilRights will aggressively prosecute or pursue justice against those engaged in such discrimination.” Dhillon further added. “Targeting other Americans because of their race or religion is antithetical to our values as a nation.”
While Dhillon says in a post on X, “innocent and the law-abiding citizens and workers of all backgrounds, are entitled to the protection of federal law, and we will protect them @TheJusticeDept. Thank you!”
Though Dhillon’s remarks were intended to strike a balance between demanding legal accountability and defending the broader Sikh and Indian American community, it quickly took on a different tone online.
Her statement was reshared by Marine Corps veteran John Slaughter, who used it to amplify his own hardline anti-immigration stance. In his repost, Slaughter called for a “complete shutdown to all Indian immigration,” claiming that Indian nationals were exploiting U.S. civil rights laws and forming monopolies across key industries.
While Dhillon had emphasized lawful conduct and community values, Slaughter reframed the discussion into one of ethnic exclusion and national threat, using Canada’s ongoing immigration struggles as a warning of what he believes could happen in the United States.
READ: H-1B backlash erupts on social media as US-India trade war escalates (
In recent months, social media platforms have become the primary arena for expressing resentment toward Indian immigration to the United States, with conversations often turning sharply hostile. As the debate over migration intensifies amid President Donald Trump’s calls for an immigration crackdown, many users online have gone beyond concerns over border control to demand an end to the H-1B visa program, a key pathway for skilled workers, particularly from India.
Much of this hostility has been directed specifically at Indian professionals in tech and trucking, with critics accusing them of “dominating” industries and sidelining American workers.
A report found by Anti-Indian Racism on X shows that “680 high-engagement anti-Indian racist posts on X … 281.2 M views” between July 1 and Sept. 7, and that “narratives framing Indians as ‘invaders’ and ‘job-thieves’ … calls for visa bans, denaturalization of Indians” were prominent.
Activity reached its highest point in August 2025, with 381 posts generating nearly 190 million views. The surge in online hostility aligned with the U.S.–India tariff dispute and other flashpoint incidents, suggesting that policy clashes and headline-driven controversies tend to amplify racist narratives. Roughly 65 percent of the posts originated from U.S.-based accounts, underscoring America’s position as the main hub of anti-Indian sentiment online during the study period.
A viral post on X by a U.S. man Musician and builder Sean Carpenter in D.C. who heard Hindi‐speaking gate agents and wrote disparagingly about Indians and the H-1B visa program. “Sitting in the DC airport, listening to three gate agents speaking Hindi behind me. Tell me why we need Indians to work the gates at airports again? H1-B is a complete fraud.” The H1-B program visa allows foreign guest workers to take up specialized jobs in the U.S.
Carpenter’s post soon attracted views, sparking outrage among Indian users who denounced his remarks as openly racist. In response to the backlash, he deleted many of the critical comments and escalated his rhetoric, referring to Indians as “parasites.” He went on to write, “All you parasites, why not focus on making India great again? Or do you need the British back to do that?”
Now what began as policy discussion has increasingly devolved into ethnic blame and digital outrage, exposing how immigration debates in the U.S. have merged with populist anxieties and online nationalism.