U.S. Ambassador Says Immigration Reforms Not Targeted at India, Highlights Shared Views on Illegal Migration
U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has sought to reassure Indians over the Trump administration’s immigration measures, stating that changes to the U.S. visa system are “not targeted at India” while affirming that people-to-people ties, trade, and defence cooperation between the two countries will continue to grow.
In an exclusive interview with IANS at the White House, Mr. Gor said the administration’s immigration reforms were part of a broader effort to overhaul the entire U.S. immigration system rather than measures directed at any particular country. “I don’t think the big item to remember on that is this is not targeted at India,” he said when asked about concerns surrounding H-1B visas and reports of increased immigration enforcement.
Mr. Gor also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump share similar views on illegal immigration. “It’s actually something the Prime Minister relates to,” he said. “When I listen to the Prime Minister speaking in India, he talks about no illegal migrants. We hundred per cent agree with that.”
The ambassador acknowledged that India’s large population naturally means more Indians are affected by changes in U.S. immigration procedures, but stressed that the reforms should not be viewed as India-specific. “Of course, India’s a massive population, so you’re impacted by it. But things continue,” he said, pointing to the scale of visa operations in India as evidence of strong bilateral exchanges.
Beyond immigration, Mr. Gor highlighted the depth of the strategic partnership, noting that “India exports more to the United States than anywhere else in the world” and “India does more defence exercises with the United States than any other country in the world.” He also discussed energy cooperation, saying New Delhi had already increased purchases of U.S. energy and that diversifying supplies would strengthen India’s energy security.
India remains one of the largest sources of international students and skilled professionals entering the United States, while Indian companies continue to expand investments across the American market. The India-U.S. partnership has expanded significantly over the past two decades, encompassing defence, technology, trade, clean energy and critical supply chains, with both governments consistently describing the relationship as one of their most consequential strategic partnerships.
