US Revokes South Sudanese Visas Amid Deportation Standoff
The United States has abruptly revoked all visas held by South Sudanese nationals and will block any new arrivals at ports of entry, citing the African nation’s refusal to accept its citizens being deported from the US.
In a firm statement issued Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed South Sudan’s transitional government for stalling the repatriation of its nationals. “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner,” Rubio stated. “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States.”
The sweeping visa suspension follows months of mounting frustration in Washington, where President Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized mass deportations as a key part of its immigration agenda. South Sudan, however, has allegedly failed to comply with the repatriation process, triggering the latest sanctions.
The policy shift has immediate consequences for thousands of South Sudanese residing in the U.S., many of whom previously received Temporary Protected Status (TPS)—a designation allowing them to live and work in the U.S. legally due to ongoing instability in their home country. TPS protections were set to expire by May 3.
The situation is further complicated by growing fears of renewed civil conflict in South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation. Violence between ethnic groups continues to undermine a fragile 2018 peace agreement, which has yet to deliver a new constitution, national elections, or unified armed forces.
The US took steps earlier in March to evacuate non-emergency personnel from its embassy in South Sudan after regional fighting erupted, threatening the already fragile peace deal between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar.
One of the most high-profile individuals potentially impacted by the visa ban is Khaman Maluach, an 18-year-old basketball phenom at Duke University who represented South Sudan in the Olympics and is seen as a rising NBA prospect. The university has acknowledged the policy change and is working to assess its impact on students like Maluach.
Rubio’s move mirrors earlier confrontations with other governments unwilling to cooperate with US deportation efforts. In January, Colombia briefly barred US deportation flights before reversing course under pressure of threatened tariffs.
As tensions simmer, the US visa revocation marks a significant deterioration in relations with South Sudan — one that could have ripple effects for diplomacy, humanitarian efforts, and South Sudanese nationals caught in the geopolitical crossfire.
