US not targeting India with H-1B visa policy changes, Rubio says

The Trump administration's recently announced changes to H-1B visa policies are designed to prioritize American workers and national interests rather than target any particular country, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. The remarks come as the policy shift has drawn scrutiny from India, which has a significant stake in the visa programme that allows US companies to employ foreign specialty workers. Rubio emphasised that the administration is implementing a comprehensive review of America's immigration system with the goal of protecting domestic employment opportunities. The H-1B visa programme has long been a contentious issue in US politics, with critics arguing it displaces American workers while proponents say it fills critical skills gaps. India has been the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas in recent years, with Indian IT professionals and workers in other sectors relying heavily on the programme for employment in the United States.