PM Modi, Trump share similar views on illegal immigration: US Ambassador Gor (IANS Exclusive)
Washington, June 27
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, has sought to reassure Indians over the Trump administration's immigration measures, saying changes to the US visa system are "not targeted at India" while insisting 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, Gor said the administration's immigration reforms were part of a broader effort to overhaul the entire US 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," Gor said when asked about concerns surrounding H-1B visas and reports of increased immigration enforcement in the United States.
"The United States, we had to take stock of the whole immigration system, every kind of visa," he said. "Unfortunately, under previous administrations, our borders were wide open. That's something the President wanted to fix on day one."
Gor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump shared 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 US Ambassador said India's large population naturally meant more Indians were affected by changes in US 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," he said. "But things continue."
Gor pointed to the scale of visa operations in India as evidence of the strength of bilateral exchanges.
"Our Embassy is one of the busiest embassies in the world as it relates to visas, as you know," he said.
"So the people-to-people ties will continue, trade will continue, commerce will continue."
He also highlighted the depth of the broader strategic partnership between the two countries.
"India exports more to the United States than anywhere else in the world," Gor said. "India does more defence exercises with the United States than any other country in the world."
"So we have incredible things happening. We'll continue building on that."
On energy cooperation, Gor said New Delhi had already increased purchases of US energy and argued that diversifying supplies would strengthen India's energy security.
"I think we've already seen an incredible increase in energy coming from the United States," he said. "For India, that's a good thing. You want to be diversified. You should not have all your energy supplies coming from one place."
Referring to the recent crisis involving Iran, Gor added: "Unfortunately, when Iran decided to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, which are international waterways, the whole world was impacted by it. So having different sources is a good thing for every country."
India remains one of the largest sources of international students and skilled professionals entering the United States, while Indian companies continue to expand investments and operations across the American market. Mobility of students, professionals and business travellers has become an important pillar of the bilateral relationship.
The India-US partnership has expanded significantly over the past two decades, encompassing defence, technology, trade, clean energy and critical supply chains. Despite periodic policy differences on immigration and trade, both governments have consistently described the relationship as one of their most consequential strategic partnerships.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Modi ji talking about no illegal migrants and Trump doing the same — makes sense. Both leaders want orderly systems. But the real test is whether our skilled workers get fair treatment. H-1B lottery anxiety is real for thousands of families. Good to see defence and trade growing, but visas are the backbone of our relationship. Hope the reforms don't add more uncertainty. 🇮🇳🤝🇺🇸
As an American living in India for work, I can see both sides. Yes, US immigration needed reform after years of lax enforcement. But the ambassador's right — India's massive population means any change will disproportionately affect Indians. The data on defence exercises and trade is impressive. Still, I worry about the message sent to talented Indian students who now think twice about applying to US universities. We need clarity, not just reassurance.
The energy angle is interesting — India buying more US oil and diversifying away from the Gulf makes strategic sense. The Strait of Hormuz episode was a wake-up call. And yes, the India-US partnership in defence is mind-blowing, from joint exercises to technology sharing. But for the average Indian professional, it's the visa uncertainty that bites. Hope the "not targeted at India" line translates into smoother processing times and clearer rules.
It's all diplomatic speak, but the underlying message is positive. Trade, defence, energy — all growing. The real worry is for families waiting years for green cards. The US admits to a broken system, yet reforms still leave skilled Indians in limbo. Ambassador Gor's point about PM Modi's stance is fair — both leaders want merit-based systems. But let's see action, not just words. Indians contribute billions to US economy — we deserve a fair path.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.