Immigration salience and double standards: differential impacts on prejudice and far-right support between Ukrainian refugees and other immigrant groups / <i>La saliencia de la inmigración y los dobles estándares: impactos diferenciales en los prejui

This research examined whether highlighting immigration as a major societal issue increases anti-immigrant prejudice and far-right support, particularly among social conservatives. We also explored whether this effect would be weaker when salience involves immigrant groups that are normatively protected, such as Ukrainian refugees, compared to other groups. Across two studies conducted in Switzerland ( N = 439) and France ( N = 382), participants were randomly assigned to either a control or a salience condition in which immigration was framed as a major societal issue. Participants then recalled immigration-related news, allowing for a comparison between salience attributed to Ukrainian refugees versus other immigrant groups. Results showed that immigration salience did not increase prejudice or far-right support when focused on Ukrainian refugees. However, when salience was associated with other immigrant groups, it significantly increased anti-immigrant prejudice and far-right support, especially among social conservatives. These findings suggest that immigration salience can increase double standards in attitudes towards immigrants, with negative effects mitigated when attention is directed towards normatively protected groups.