When times get tough and everyone is on the block, people who are not necessarily from the 'lower rungs' show their true colors. It becomes them over you and they will resort to code-words or sometimes, as in my case, plain out point out my immigration status in 2-3 standup meetings (once the rumor mill of layoffs got started). This person was an 'upper-rung' sort of chap too; after all, they got their degree from a Christian college/university in South Carolina (or was it North Carolina? - one of the Carolinas). Compassion, empathy and all that must have come as second nature. But not their first.

> This place has always been forward looking, so far.

You must not wade into the political topics very often.

This is bizarre to me that people would actually say this to you. Anecdotally, I've worked for some pretty well known tech companies and have never heard anyone talk this way openly. I never worked in Silicon Valley or SF, but these corporations I worked for regularly hired Indian and Eastern European developers because they were great developers... Some of my best mentors immigrated from these areas.

If you are hearing this kind of talk regularly, I think it's time to change who you work with as this doesn't seem right or normal to me.