It kind of reinforces the fact that the distinction between "immigrants" and "expats" is largely income-based. It reminds me of the great animated film "Persepolis". When discussing leaving Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, the father of the main character replies to his wife "So that you can be a housemaid and me a taxi driver?" (they're both middle-class). If they left, they would be become immigrants. On the other hand, somebody in the western world from the middle-class migrating from one location to the other would expect to retain their social status and find an equivalent job. This kind of difference is pretty sad.
Now, patio11 is an immigrant/expat (being a USAian living in Japan), and who knows perhaps in Japan there are disadvantages/hurdles by looking like a white dude. So I have no idea if it was/is right for someone to say that to him.
I'll scratch it up to American social justice warriors having the common mistake of thinking everything is like the USA.