In an ideal society, all inhabitants would be treated equally, but in reality there are divisions with groups of varying dominance, whether clear or hidden. Usually the dominant groups, powerful either by political, cultural or social hegemony create the narrative of ‘otherness’ and pass laws, some of which could be discriminatory. This is especially problematic for migrant groups that have lesser political capital, if any, in the process. This essay is an attempt to understand the mechanisms used for this ‘othering’ and its effect on migrants. It proposes that the policy of maximum ‘assimilation’ promoted for migrant populations is essentially flawed and needs to be re-assessed and calibrated.