The "Clog The Toilet" campaign is a recent instance of online racism and xenophobia directed towards Indian H-1B visa holders. It emerged in response to the panic triggered by announcements of changes to the H-1B visa system, including a potential $100,000 fee for new petitions.
The campaign, which originated on the far-right message board 4chan, encouraged users to disrupt flight reservation systems by initiating multiple bookings for flights from India to the United States and then deliberately abandoning the transactions. This tactic aimed to block H-1B holders from securing flights and returning to the U.S., under the false assumption that the new fees would apply to existing visa holders. The original post on 4chan called on users to "clog the flight reservation system," "locking out" Indians. The user also used an anti-Asian slur and encouraged others to "spread the word".
The campaign spread quickly across other social media platforms, including Telegram, far-right forums, and alternative streaming platforms. Screenshots and posts from these platforms reveal a coordinated effort to prevent Indians from entering the United States. Some users cheered the movement and made hateful comments, while others highlighted the racism and xenophobia inherent in the campaign.
The "Clog The Toilet" campaign has been widely condemned as a form of racism disguised as online trolling. Critics point out that it targets a community that makes significant contributions to the U.S. economy and society. Research indicates that the Indian American community contributes nearly 6% of all U.S. income taxes, amounting to roughly $250-$300 billion annually. Indian immigrants include engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and workers who drive innovation, create jobs, and support the country's growth.
The White House has clarified that the $100,000 fee applies only to new H-1B petitions and not to existing visa holders seeking to re-enter the country. Despite this clarification, the "Clog The Toilet" campaign continues to spread, highlighting the persistent anti-immigrant sentiment and the potential for online hate speech to translate into real-world harm.
