India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently raised significant concerns regarding H-1B visas and green card processing with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting in Delhi. Jaishankar emphasized that the legal mobility of Indian professionals should not be adversely affected by Washington's broader immigration reforms.
India's Call for Proportionality in Mobility
Minister Jaishankar highlighted the critical role of people-to-people ties in the India-US relationship. He conveyed India's expectation that while both nations cooperate to address illegal migration, legitimate channels for movement should not face undue obstacles.
"While we cooperate to deal with illegal and irregular mobility, our expectation is that legal mobility would not be adversely impacted as a consequence. After all, this is very relevant to our business, technology and research cooperation," Jaishankar stated.
Concerns have mounted among Indian professionals due to Washington's updated approach to H-1B visas and a recent US Citizenship and Immigration Services directive. This directive reportedly requires certain green card applicants to return to their home countries for processing, causing considerable anxiety for those already in the US.
US Defends Immigration Overhaul Amid "Bumps"
Secretary Rubio acknowledged the "friction points and some difficulties" that arise during systemic reforms. He defended the administration's course, framing the disruptions as an unavoidable part of overhauling the immigration system rather than measures specifically targeting India.
"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," Rubio explained.
Rubio was adamant that the new system is not aimed at India but is being applied globally. He also referenced the "migration crisis" the US has faced, with over 20 million illegal entries in recent years, as a driving factor behind the need for reform. He expressed confidence that the ultimate goal is a more efficient and sustainable immigration system.
Broader Diplomatic Context
Rubio's visit occurred amidst ongoing efforts to stabilize India-US ties, which have experienced strain over the past year. Previous issues include Washington's punitive tariffs on India, former President Trump's repeated claims about de-escalating the India-Pakistan military conflict, and earlier H-1B fee hikes. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had previously traveled to Washington to initiate discussions aimed at repairing the relationship.