US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended recent changes to the United States work visa rules on October 23, 2026, stating they prioritize American workers and national interests. Rubio emphasized the policy is global and not specifically directed at India, despite its significant impact on Indian nationals seeking employment in the US.
Major IT and Tech Firms Suspended from Labor Program
On October 9, 2026, the US Government suspended several large IT outsourcing companies from the Permanent Labour Certification Program. The suspended Indian-origin firms include Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini. US technology firms Microsoft and Adobe were also removed from the program. The US Labour Department linked
the suspensions to active federal investigations into these companies. Collectively, these firms have sought millions of foreign workers and were granted hundreds of thousands of H-1B visa approvals and permanent labor certifications.
Background on Visa System Abuse and OPT Fee Proposal
Rubio cited systemic abuse and fraud within US business-related immigration programs as a reason for the reforms. In tandem with the suspensions, the US Department of Homeland Security proposed new fees for F-1 non-immigrant students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) to protect American workers and uphold immigration system integrity. These steps are part of a broader government effort to curb misuse of visa programs and ensure these
initiatives serve US job markets.
US-India Relations and Rubio’s Clarifications
India has emphasized that skilled professional movement supports innovation, research, productivity, and bilateral job creation. However, it has expressed concerns that recent US visa measures conflict with shared goals between the two nations. Rubio stated, “It’s not one that’s built on India. It’s not one that’s focused on India …It happens to impact Indians that want to come to the United States and work and that our businesses are trying to bring in, but it’s not geared towards India. It is global.” He added, “I expect that the government of India will always put the
people of India first and that you will always put the national interest of India first…But I also hope everyone understands that the United States under President Trump is going to put our people first, our workers first and our country first.”
