U.S. Revokes South Sudanese Visas Amid Deportation Dispute

U.S. Revokes South Sudanese Visas Amid Deportation Dispute

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the immediate cancellation of visas for individuals holding South Sudanese passports, citing the country's refusal to cooperate with the repatriation of its nationals removed from the United States.

In a statement released Saturday, Rubio confirmed that entry into the U.S. will also be denied to South Sudanese citizens at all ports of entry. He attributed the decision to "the transitional government's ongoing refusal to accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner."

This move aligns with former President Donald Trump's broader immigration policy, which prioritized large-scale deportations of individuals residing in the U.S. without legal status.

"The Transitional Government of South Sudan can no longer exploit the goodwill of the United States," Rubio stated. "All nations must take responsibility for their citizens when deportation proceedings are enforced."

The decision comes amid escalating concerns about renewed conflict in South Sudan. On March 8, the U.S. instructed non-essential diplomatic personnel to evacuate the country as clashes erupted, jeopardizing the fragile 2018 peace accord.

South Sudanese nationals in the U.S. had previously been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was set to expire on May 3. TPS allows individuals from countries experiencing conflict or natural disasters to remain temporarily in the U.S.

Since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has experienced prolonged instability. A political split in 2013 between President Salva Kiir and then-Vice President Riek Machar sparked a brutal civil war, resulting in over 400,000 deaths.

Although a 2018 peace deal halted widespread fighting, critical parts of the agreement—such as drafting a new constitution, holding elections, and unifying military factions—remain unfulfilled. Isolated outbreaks of violence continue to affect various regions.

This is not the first time the Trump administration has faced challenges related to deportations. In January, Colombia temporarily blocked two U.S. military aircraft transporting deportees. The standoff ended after Trump threatened severe economic repercussions.