She is trying to play both sides of the fence. The funny thing is that in her memoir (which I'm assuming that she is trying to appeal to a greater audience than just the ones in South Carolina) she is trying to play off the 'we were discriminated because we were immigrants card.'

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_nikki-haley-s-memoir-to-hit-stands-in-2012_1561263

As the only Indian-Americans in a rural town, the Randhawas experienced discrimination but were able to start a successful small business.

And then she turns around and passes anti-immigration laws.