US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, 25 May 2025, described the United States as a 'welcoming country' and dismissed racist remarks made against Indians in the US as the actions of 'stupid people,' speaking at a joint press conference in New Delhi alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Rubio's Direct Response on Racist Remarks

When asked about racist comments targeting Indians in the US, Rubio did not sidestep the question. 'I don't know how to address that, but I'll take that very seriously about the comments,' he said. 'Look, I'm sure that there are people who have made comments online and other places because every country in the world has stupid people. I'm sure there are stupid people here. There are stupid people in the United States who make dumb comments all the time.'

He went on to reaffirm the country's identity as a nation built on immigration: 'The United States is a very welcoming country. Our nation has been enriched by people who come to our country from all over the world, have become Americans, have assimilated into our way of life and have contributed greatly.'

Indian Community's Economic Contribution Acknowledged

Rubio underscored the significance of India's economic footprint in the US, noting that 'over $20 billion have been invested in the US economy by Indian companies.' He added that the expertise provided by the Indian community has been 'very, very valuable' and expressed a desire to see that investment figure grow further.

On Visa Changes and Immigration Reform

Addressing concerns around recent changes to the J1, F1, and H1B visa categories, Rubio was emphatic that the policy shift was not directed at India. 'The changes that are happening now, or the modernisation of our migration system into the United States, is not focused, is not India-specific. It is global; it's being applied across the world,' he said.

He cited a broader migratory crisis as the driving force behind the overhaul, stating that 'over 20 million people illegally entered the United States over the last few years,' making reform unavoidable. Rubio acknowledged that the transition period would create 'friction points and some difficulties' but maintained that the end result would be a system 'more efficient and even better than the previous system.'

A Personal Note on Immigration

Rubio drew on his own family history to illustrate the US's immigration legacy. 'My parents entered the United States as permanent residents in 1956 from Cuba,' he noted, adding that roughly 'a million people' become permanent US residents every year. He argued that while immigration has historically enriched the country, the system must be 'adjusted in every era to the realities of the modern times.'

What It Means for Indians Seeking to Work in the US

Rubio acknowledged that the reforms may be 'having a disproportionate impact on a place like India that provides so many high-skilled workers to the US economy,' but stressed the changes are 'not a system that is targeted at India.' He expressed optimism that once the modernisation is complete, the new framework 'may prove to be even more beneficial than the previous system was to people from India who seek to enter the United States to work and innovate.'

The remarks come at a sensitive moment in India-US relations, with Indian professionals and students closely watching shifts in American immigration policy. How the reformed system takes shape in practice will determine whether Rubio's reassurances hold.