The internet is rife with trending visuals of violent protests in Los Angeles. One such scene currently going viral on social media involved South Asians, presumably including Indians, trying their best to protect a 7-Eleven store against anti-ICE protesters.

“ICE Protesters Vs 7 Eleven Employees,” a so-captioned video surfaced on X this week following its emergence on TikTok. It captures a stark difference between demonstrators and a group of people inside a convenience store in LA. A massive crowd of protesters appears to be attempting to forcefully will themselves into a 7 Eleven store while another group of Indians and possibly other South Asians give it their all to keep the doors locked and intact.

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7-Eleven has long been deemed a lifeline of new immigrants. Consequently, it has often fuelled stereotypes and racist “jokes.” Even a 2023 Juggernaut report noted that as many as 70% of these stores in the US are owned or operated by South Asians.

Netizens couldn’t help but point out the irony emerging in the hostile tussle. “Nothing says Im pro immigration like attacking immigrant businesses,” someone commented on X. “Indians/hindus are the most educated affluent peaceful non criminal group in USA Look how they are protecting their business,” yet another added. A third chimed in, “Looks like they are going after the immigrants they are protesting for,” with another saying, “Difference between legal and illegal immigrants is lost on Americans.”

‘Legal Indians vs Illegal Mexicans’: Social media picks sides

With all that in mind and the current developments in Los Angeles, social media has consequently come out in defence of Indians coming to the US on a merit-based track.

As a mainstay at immigration-related crossfires, the Mexican flag has again become the symbol of these LA protests. It makes sense, considering over 3.4 million people of Mexican heritage (or Mexican-born) live in Los Angeles County, according to Census data.

In the wake of such a major Mexican presence in these scenes, social media has since been pushing back against their contentious comparisons with Indian-origin people residing in the US. A controversial poll, titled “Illegal Mexicans vs Legal Indians,” which has repeatedly been shared on the microblogging platform, again resurfaced on X amid the unrest.

One poll as recent as April 2025, showed a majority of nearly 84% people choosing illegal Mexicans over legal Indians. Contrary to the figures, netizens are now suggesting that allowing undocumented Mexican nationals has only fanned fires in the US. “Illegal Mexicans are welcomed, Legal Indians are denied in most powerful country. Result infront of you,” a user tweeted on X along with a video of Waymo vehicles being torched in the streets.

Another person wrote, “Xenophobia at its peak!! 83% of 37k votes would rather have an ILLEGAL mexican hooligan than a LEGAL indian working person !! notice the differentiation. this happens because of the narrative set against indians as a ‘race’.”

A third user said, “I hope @realDonaldTrump and Americans now understand the difference between a legal indian and an illegal mexican.” Yet another commented, “You gave the keys to radicals—now LA’s on fire. Meanwhile, legal Indian immigrants are building companies, not chaos. Keep mocking merit, and this is what you get.”

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Los Angeles protests

These raids in Los Angeles flared up over the weekend and have extended well into the new week. With no apparent end in sight, Mayor Karen Bass ultimately issued a partial curfew on Tuesday to deal with the ongoing violence, vandalism and looting during such demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Los Angeles Police Department followed up the announcement by revealing that “mass arrests” had been initiated after the curfew had already set in motion in parts of LA. Having escalated into riots, the LA situation was exacerbated further as Trump deployed a US Marine battalion and the National Guard troops to quell the hostile circumstances.

Meanwhile, a new YouGov poll, as quoted by the Independent, suggested that only around one in three Americans (36%) approve of the raging demonstrations against ICE. The data, relying on responses of more than 4,300 US adults, further noted that a majority of 45% Americans are actually against the protests.