Rubio Addresses Illegal Immigration Concerns With Jaishankar

WASHINGTON, DC (Reuters) – The new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed irregular migration concerns on January 21, the U.S. State Department said.

The talks come as President Donald Trump, who took office on January 20, introduced  immigration policies aimed at curbing illegal migration and accelerating deportations.

India has expressed readiness to cooperate with the U.S. in identifying and repatriating its nationals residing illegally in the country. According to Bloomberg, the two governments have identified approximately 18,000 Indian migrants who may face deportation.

The State Department emphasized Rubio’s focus on strengthening U.S.-India economic ties while addressing migration challenges.

Separately, India reiterated the importance of the movement of skilled professionals to its bilateral relations with the U.S. The discussions occur amid debates over the H-1B visa program, which enables U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields.

In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, India accounted for 78% of the 265,777 H-1B visas issued by the U.S.