WASHINGTON: An Indian-origin woman publicly confronted US Vice President JD Vance during an event at the University of Mississippi, questioning the Trump administration’s tough stance on legal immigration and accusing it of betraying the very ideals that once drew people to America.
The heated exchange took place during a town hall-style discussion when the woman stood up to challenge Vance’s assertion that the US must drastically reduce the number of immigrants entering the country — even those who come legally.
“When you talk about too many immigrants here, when did you guys decide that number?” she asked passionately. “You made us spend our youth and our wealth in this country and gave us a dream. You don’t owe us anything — we’ve worked hard for it.”
Her pointed remarks drew loud applause from the audience. She continued, “How can you, as vice president, stand there and say that we have too many of them now and we are going to take them out — people who came here rightfully, paying the fees you asked us to pay? You gave us a path, and now you’re telling us we don’t belong here anymore?”
Vance responded with a faint smile, saying, “We are not close to causing a scene. Don’t worry, ” before sidestepping the question. He reiterated his belief that reducing legal immigration was necessary to protect America’s “social fabric.”
“Just because one person or 10 people or 100 people came in illegally and contributed to the US, does that mean we should allow a million or 10 million or 100 million more each year? No, that’s not right, ” he said.
The woman also brought up Vance’s interfaith marriage to a Hindu woman, asking whether it influenced his perspective on diversity and inclusion.
“I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel, my wife eventually comes to see it the same way, ” Vance said. “But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will, and that doesn’t cause a problem for me.”
The exchange, which was caught on video, quickly went viral on social media, with many users praising the woman for speaking up on behalf of immigrant communities who feel increasingly targeted by the administration’s restrictive immigration agenda.
Political observers say the incident underscores growing tensions among legal immigrants who fear being marginalized under stricter visa and residency policies. For many, the woman’s emotional words — “You made us believe in the American dream, and now you’re shutting the door on us” — have come to symbolize their frustration and disillusionment.