What is meant by the term "scapegoat" in relation to anti-immigrant sentiment? Why does it exist?

Answer 1

a scapegoat is someone who is the victim of being blamed for someone's pain, suffering, or death. he was blamed, not necessarily guilty.
I do not see how it relates to anti-immigrant sentiment though. The nearest thing that might relate is the blaming the actions of a comparitively few fanatical muslims on the entire muslim population.
during the crusades, many jews in the east met tragic deaths at the hands of crusaders who couldn't find a rich arab to plunder and took it out on the jews. how come we call nazis the jew killers yet most countries in europe have harassed and killed and robbed jews, and how few jews were allowed into various countries of the ww2 era.
someone to be blamed in general for all the hurts that they can't find a legitimate guilty person for.

Answer 2

Some anti-immigrant sentiments evolve from other economic maladies, i.e. tax structure, workplace anxieties, etc... but are vented on immigrants, because unlike the gov't or your boss, they cannot retaliate. Thus they are the scapegoats of frustration.