A city council meeting in Frisco turned tense after right-wing activists clashed with Indian-origin residents over immigration and the H-1B visa programme.
What was meant to be a routine civic meeting became a heated showdown, with allegations of visa fraud and claims of an “Indian takeover” dominating the discussion.
According to reports by the Dallas Observer and The Dallas Morning News, the February 3 meeting drew several right-wing activists from across North Texas.
Many wore “America First” caps and symbols linked to right-wing groups. They alleged that Indians were misusing H-1B visas and taking jobs away from Americans.
The gathering followed online calls by conservative influencers Kaylee Campbell and Marc Palasciano, who urged supporters to attend the meeting and speak against what they described as a rapid demographic change in Frisco.
Reports noted that most of the critics were not Frisco residents. Still, they accused the city of ignoring what they claimed was widespread visa fraud.
One speaker, Dylan Law, a University of North Texas student, said long-time residents felt their concerns were being dismissed as bigotry.
Data shows that Frisco’s Indian and Asian population has grown sharply; rising from about 10% in 2010 to nearly 33% today.
Fringe right-wing voices have linked this growth to the fact that Indians receive around 75% of H-1B visas nationwide, using it to argue that the system is being abused.
The allegations were strongly challenged by Indian-American residents who spoke at the meeting. Shanthan Toodi, a US Army veteran, said fraud should be punished but warned against blaming an entire community.
“When whole ethnic groups are called a problem, it stops being policy and becomes collective blame,” he said.
Another resident, Muni Janagarajan, said Indian families contribute positively to the city.
“When we buy homes, we fund parks and one of the best school districts in Texas. That benefits everyone,” he said.
Long-time resident Amit Radjadhyaksha urged dialogue instead of division, saying he was proud to be both Indian and American and had no intention of leaving Frisco.
Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney also defended the city’s diversity. He said Frisco celebrates multiple cultures and stressed that almost everyone in the city comes from somewhere else.
“When you choose Frisco as home, we want you to feel welcome and safe,” he said.
While immigration policy lies outside the city council’s authority, the meeting highlighted growing tensions around H-1B visas, demographic change, and identity politics in parts of the US.