At the drop of a hat, JD Vance has walked straight into another storm, stating that “mass migration is theft of the American Dream” and setting social media alight. His declaration prompted immediate accusations of hypocrisy, especially given that his wife, Usha, is the American-born daughter of Indian immigrants.
Vance made the comment in a post on X, insisting that immigrants were depriving US workers of opportunity and alleging that studies countering his view were funded by “people getting rich off the old system”.
The reaction was swift. One user wrote, “That means you have to send Usha, her Indian family, and your biracial kids back to India. Let us know when you buy the plane tickets. You must lead by example.” Another said, “I am getting sick of this. What is Usha’s family doing in andhra? They need to speak up against this racist bd and why Usha is allowing the mockery of her ethnicity and religion. Now I am more interested in what made her marry this bd.” A further comment asked, “Wait, isn’t your wife Indian from immigrant family?”
The uproar follows earlier viral moments. On a recent New York Post podcast, Vance said it was “totally reasonable” to prefer neighbours who share one’s race, language, or skin colour, adding that a future Trump administration would try to “remove as many [undocumented migrants] as we possibly can.” The latest storm also revived scrutiny of his previous remarks expressing hope that his Hindu wife might one day adopt his Christian faith. Although he later clarified that Usha “has no plans to convert”, the issue again drew sharp responses online.
Meanwhile, the wider immigration clampdown continues. The Trump administration has imposed a sweeping freeze on immigration applications from 19 “high-risk” countries, halting green cards, asylum claims, and citizenship requests for millions. USCIS says the measure is tied to security concerns following the fatal shooting of a National Guard member by an Afghan asylum seeker in Washington, DC, while immigrant families argue it amounts to collective punishment presented as policy.