Washington, June 27: U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gore, has sought to reassure Indians regarding the Trump administration’s immigration policies. He emphasized that changes in the U.S. visa system are not aimed at targeting India. The relationship between the two countries, including trade and defense cooperation, will continue to strengthen.
In an exclusive interview with a news agency at the White House, Ambassador Gore stated that the government’s immigration reforms are part of a broader initiative to overhaul the entire U.S. immigration system, rather than being directed at any specific country.
When asked about concerns regarding the H-1B visa and the increasing enforcement of U.S. immigration laws, Gore remarked, “I don’t think this issue should be seen as a step against India. It is not aimed specifically at targeting India in any way.”
He added, “The U.S. needed to review its entire immigration system, including all types of visas. Unfortunately, during previous administrations, our borders were completely open. This is something the President wanted to fix from day one.”
Gore noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump share similar views on illegal immigration. He stated, “This is something the Prime Minister is connected to. When I hear him speak in India, he talks about illegal migrants. We are in complete agreement on this.”
The U.S. Ambassador acknowledged that due to India’s large population, more Indians would be affected by changes in the immigration process. However, he stressed that these reforms should not be viewed solely through the lens of India.
“Of course, India has a large population, so you will be affected, but things continue to move forward,” he said.
Gore highlighted the extensive visa operations in India as evidence of strong bilateral exchanges. He mentioned, “As you know, our embassy is one of the busiest in the world in terms of visa processing. Therefore, relationships among people will remain, trade will continue, and commerce will persist.”
He also emphasized the depth of the strategic partnership between the two nations. Gore stated, “India exports more to the U.S. than any other country in the world. India conducts more defense exercises with the U.S. than with any other nation. So, significant developments are happening here, and we will keep working on this.”
Regarding energy cooperation, the U.S. Ambassador noted that New Delhi has already increased its purchases of American energy and stated that diversifying supply will enhance India’s energy security.
“I think we have already seen a tremendous increase in energy coming from the U.S. This is good for India. You want to be diversified. Your entire energy supply shouldn’t come from one source,” he said.
Referring to the recent crisis involving Iran, Gore remarked, “Unfortunately, when Iran decided to close the Strait of Hormuz, it affected the entire world. Therefore, having different sources is beneficial for every country.”
India remains one of the largest sources of international students and skilled professionals coming to the U.S., while Indian companies are increasing their investments and operations in the American market. The movement of students, professionals, and business travelers has become an essential part of the relationship between the two nations.
Over the past two decades, the India-U.S. partnership has significantly expanded, encompassing defense, technology, trade, clean energy, and critical supply chains. Despite occasional policy differences regarding immigration and trade, both governments have consistently regarded this relationship as one of their most important strategic partnerships.
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