US Revokes visas for South Sudanese Citizens Amid Deportation Controversy

The U.S. has revoked visas for South Sudanese passport holders due to the South Sudanese government's refusal to accept deported citizens, as tensions mount over immigration policies and regional instability.

In a significant move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States is canceling visas for all South Sudanese passport holders. This action stems from the refusal of South Sudan's transitional government to accept its citizens who are being deported from the U.S. Following Rubio's statement on Saturday, the U.S. will also stop any arrivals from South Sudan, identifying the situation as a failure on the part of the South Sudanese government to ensure timely repatriation of its nationals.

Rubio highlighted that this decision is aligned with a major pillar of President Donald Trump's immigration policy, which emphasizes the importance of mass deportations of illegal migrants. "Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them," he asserted, urging South Sudan's transitional government to cease taking undue advantage of the U.S.

Tensions within South Sudan have escalated with fears of potential civil conflict looming once again. Earlier this month, the U.S. ordered all non-emergency staff to evacuate South Sudan amid rising regional violence, jeopardizing the fragile peace established by a 2018 agreement. Historically, South Sudanese citizens in the U.S. were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), originally set to expire on May 3, providing a temporary shelter due to the unstable conditions back home.

Gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan quickly descended into civil war just two years later, driven by the ongoing power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar that led to over 400,000 casualties. Although a power-sharing deal was struck in 2018, unresolved issues, such as a new constitution and elections, have contributed to ongoing unrest within the country, marked by sporadic violence among various ethnic and local groups.

The Trump administration's deportation strategies have often placed it at odds with other nations. A recent incident involved Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocking U.S. military flights carrying deportees until President Trump threatened significant tariffs and sanctions.

As the U.S. grapples with its foreign policy and immigration framework, the situation in South Sudan continues to unfold with the possibility of regional repercussions.