US Revokes Visas For South Sudan Over Deportation Refusal
The United States has revoked all visas issued to holders of South Sudanese passports and suspended further issuance, citing the country’s refusal to accept its deported nationals.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced the decision on Saturday, accusing South Sudan’s transitional government of “taking advantage of the United States” by failing to repatriate its citizens.
Rubio said the measure was the first blanket visa ban targeting all passport holders from a specific country since Donald Trump returned to the White House on 20 January 2025.
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country seeks to remove them,” he said, adding that the US would reconsider its stance once South Sudan cooperates fully.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is battling political instability, with fears mounting over a possible resurgence of civil war which claimed over 400,000 lives between 2013 and 2018.
Previously, South Sudanese nationals had been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the administration of former President Joe Biden.
That designation is due to expire on 3 May 2025.
TPS offers protection from deportation to foreign nationals who cannot return safely to their countries due to conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, around 133 South Sudanese were residing in the US under the TPS scheme as of September 2023, with another 140 eligible to apply.
However, the Trump administration has begun reversing TPS designations, including the recent withdrawal of protection from over 600,000 Venezuelans.
A federal judge has since paused that decision, raising concerns over the government’s claim that the majority of Venezuelans in the US were criminals.
The US government’s action against South Sudan also follows an increase in the number of African migrants attempting to enter the country via its southern border — a route seen as an alternative to the often dangerous journey into Europe.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
