New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday clarified that recent changes to the American visa system are part of a broader global “modernisation” effort and are not aimed specifically at India.
Addressing a joint press conference alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, Rubio acknowledged the significant contribution of the Indian community and Indian businesses to the United States economy. He noted that Indian companies have invested more than $20 billion in the US and said Washington hopes to see that figure continue to rise.
“First of all, I accept the contribution that Indians have made to the US economy. Over $20 billion has been invested in the US economy by Indian companies. We want that number to continue to increase,” Rubio said.
Responding to concerns surrounding changes affecting J-1, F-1 and H-1B visa categories, Rubio stressed that the reforms are being implemented worldwide and are not directed at any single country.
“The changes that are happening now, or the modernisation of our migration system into the United States, are not India-specific; it is global, it’s being applied across the world,” he said. “We are in a period of modernisation.”
Rubio linked the reforms to broader immigration challenges faced by the United States in recent years. He said the country had experienced a major migration crisis, with millions entering illegally over the past few years, prompting the need for policy adjustments.
“We’ve had a migratory crisis in the United States. This is not because of India, but broadly, we have had over 20 million people illegally enter the United States over the last few years, and we’ve had to address that challenge,” he said.
He added that immigration policy must align with national interests and remain sustainable over time.
“Everything that you do as a country needs to be in your national interest, and that includes your immigration policy,” Rubio stated.
At the same time, Rubio described the United States as one of the world’s most welcoming nations for legal immigration. Reflecting on his own family history, he noted that his parents immigrated from Cuba to the US in 1956 and became permanent residents.
“The United States, I believe, is the most welcoming country in the world for immigration. Every single year, roughly a million people become permanent residents of the United States and contribute greatly,” he said.
Rubio also acknowledged that large-scale reforms often create temporary difficulties and uncertainty during implementation.
“Anytime you undertake a reform, any time you undertake a change in the system by which you admit people, there’s going to be a period of transition that’s going to create some friction points and some difficulties,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Rubio expressed confidence that the ongoing reforms would eventually create a more efficient and sustainable immigration system.
“We think ultimately our destination is going to be a better system, a more efficient system, one that works better than the one that we had in place previously and more sustainable,” he added.
