US Anti-South Asian Hate Soars 240% Amid Immigration Frenzy

Anti-South Asian hate in the US has surged 240% since January 2024, according to a report by Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH). The report found that Indians account for a large percentage of the abuse on the web related to immigration and H-1B visas. Between January 2025 and June 2026, there were 542,360 posts expressing anti-South Asian hate, with a monthly volume growth of 75%.

The Indian community in the US is particularly vulnerable due to their size, estimated at 5.2 million in 2025, and their dominance in H-1B visa holders, making up over 70%. The report also noted that Indian students were the top group of foreign students in the US for the 2024-25 academic year.

The immigration issue and H-1B visas have emerged as significant elements in anti-South Asian rhetoric. The report found that 45% of anti-South Asian hate on X included slurs such as 'invaders', 'job thieves', or 'a problem'. Online hate has coincided with an increase in harassment and violence towards South Asians, including a nurse beaten in Florida and a mall employee attacked in Utah.

The report noted that hatred and hostility can be both online and offline, and that stereotypes and narratives can flow from social media into politics and everyday life. The CSOH also found 397,522 anti-South Asian mentions on platforms like 4chan, 8chan, and Gab, with 4chan accounting for over 90% of all mentions.