'Why did you sell us a dream?': Indian-origin student challenges JD Vance on Trump immigration policy

Indian-origin student confronts Vance on immigration (Video grab)

A tense exchange between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and an Indian-origin student at the University of Mississippi has gone viral, after the woman confronted him over the Trump administration’s tough immigration policies and his own personal remarks on faith.

The student challenged Vance during a Turning Point USA event, asking why the administration had taken such a hardline approach towards immigrants.

“When you talk about too many immigrants here, when did you guys decide the number? Why did you sell us a dream; you made us spend our youth and wealth in this country and gave us a dream. You don’t owe us anything; we have worked hard for it,” she said. “Then how can you as the VP say that ‘we have too many of them now and we are going to take them out’ to people who are here rightfully by paying the money that you guys asked us?”

Vance defended the administration’s position, reiterating that America must limit immigration to protect domestic interests. “But just because one person, 10 people or 100 people came in legally and contributing to the United States of America, does that mean that we are thereby committed to let in a million or ten million or hundred million people in the future,” he said.

“My job as the vice president of the US is not to look out for the interests of the whole world. It’s to look out for the people of the United States.” His remarks drew loud applause from the audience.

WATCH: Immigrant asks VP JD Vance “Why did you sell us a dream? You made us spend our youth, our wealth in this country. How can you stand there and say there are too many immigrants?”

Related stories

• 
  Vance, Rubio offer clues to Trump’s foreign policy and the 2028 Presidential race
• 
  Nikki Haley’s son Nalin says end H-1B visas, stop immigration: ‘Americans deserve jobs first’
• 
  JD Vance clarifies wife Usha’s Hindu faith, says she has ‘no plans to convert’; calls out 'ant...

Vance: “My job as Vice President is not to look out for the interests of the whole world.… pic.twitter.com/OjXX7KHAwF

— Cam Higby 🇺🇸 (@camhigby) October 30, 2025

The woman later asked Vance about Christianity, prompting him to comment that he wished his Indian-origin wife, Usha Vance, embraced the faith — a statement that sparked backlash online.

JUST IN: JD Vance says he's raising his children Christian, and he hopes his agnostic wife, Usha, comes around to the Christian faith.

pic.twitter.com/ycGvPzqAgt

— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) October 30, 2025

While many praised the student for her sharp questions, several MAGA-linked accounts attacked her as a “delusional Hindu H-1B invader.” The debate comes amid a tightening of U.S. immigration policies, including a $100,000 H-1B visa fee and restrictions on employment authorisations.