United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that Washington is actively seeking agreements with more countries to accept migrants currently residing in the U.S. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Rubio stated, “We are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries. Not just El Salvador. We are working with other countries to say, ‘We want to send some of the most despicable to your countries. Will you do that as a favor to us?’ And the further from the U.S., the better.”

Rubio’s comments reflect the administration’s strategy of reducing domestic pressure from immigration by working with foreign partners to relocate certain migrant populations, especially those viewed as high-risk or criminal offenders. The remarks indicate a preference for distant relocation, beyond neighboring Central American countries.

In a separate diplomatic development, Rubio also held high-level phone conversations with officials from India and Pakistan in an effort to ease recent regional tensions. According to a readout from the State Department, he urged both sides to de-escalate and maintain peace in South Asia following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

During a call with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Rubio reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to collaborate with New Delhi on counterterrorism, while emphasizing the importance of a thorough investigation into the attack. In a separate conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rubio discussed regional security and encouraged Islamabad to condemn the attack and support investigative efforts.

Sharif’s office later released a statement noting that the prime minister requested the U.S. to pressure India to help reduce bilateral tensions. The outreach marks Washington’s continued involvement in maintaining stability in the region, balancing ties with both nuclear-armed nations while urging cooperation in confronting shared threats.

Together, the announcements highlight Secretary Rubio’s dual focus on addressing complex global migration dynamics and fostering regional peace and security in one of the world’s most volatile areas.