A woman of Indian origin challenged US Vice President JD Vance at a University of Mississippi event over the Donald Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, questioning his stance on limiting legal immigration and the treatment of those who came to America “by the book."
JD Vance argued that the US should accept “far fewer" legal immigrants, insisting on a strict vetting process to protect what he called the country’s “social fabric." The woman stood up during the question-and-answer session and accused the White House of betraying the very ideals it once promoted.
“When you talk about too many immigrants here, when did you guys decide that number?" she asked, adding, “You made us spend our youth, our wealth in this country and gave us a dream. You don’t owe us anything. We have worked hard for it."
She went on to ask how the administration could justify restricting legal immigration after years of encouraging people to pursue the American dream. She said, “How can you, as a vice president, stand there and say that ‘We have too many of them now, and we are going to take them out’ to people who are here rightfully so by paying the money that you guys asked us? You gave us the path, and now how can you stop it and tell us we don’t belong here anymore?"
Her remarks drew loud applause from the audience while JD Vance responded with a brief smile, “We are not close to causing a scene. Don’t worry."
JD Vance avoided a direct answer, saying that allowing unrestricted immigration could undermine the nation’s cohesion.
“Just because one person or 10 people or 100 people came in illegally and contributed to the US, does that mean that we are thereby committed to let in a million or 10 million or 100 million people a year in the future? No, that’s not right," he said.
The woman then questioned JD Vance about his interfaith marriage to a Hindu woman and how it shaped his worldview.
“I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way. But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn’t cause a problem for me," JD Vance replied.
The exchange, captured on video, has since gone viral on social media.
