The U.S. State Department announced it is revoking all visas for South Sudanese citizens and will halt new visa issuances until the African nation accepts its deported nationals, marking a significant escalation in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement, emphasizing the critical nature of immigration law enforcement for U.S. national security. “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States,” Rubio stated in official remarks about the visa restrictions.
The decision affects all current South Sudanese visa holders, including students and business travelers, and represents one of the most severe diplomatic measures taken against the nation regarding immigration compliance.
Currently, approximately 133 South Sudanese nationals are protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), with another 140 eligible to apply. This protection has been crucial for South Sudanese in the U.S., given their homeland’s ongoing instability.
The visa revocation comes amid South Sudan’s continued political turmoil, stemming from a civil war that claimed 400,000 lives between 2013 and 2018. The nation’s internal challenges have complicated its ability to manage international obligations, as reported in recent coverage of the regional conflict.
This action aligns with the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, which recently included revoking protections for over 600,000 Venezuelans. The administration has demonstrated a consistent pattern of strict enforcement measures against countries deemed uncooperative in accepting deported citizens.
“Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States,” Rubio emphasized, adding that “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”
The State Department has indicated it will review the visa restrictions once South Sudan demonstrates full cooperation with U.S. deportation procedures, though no specific timeline has been provided for resolution.