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2w ago

US Revokes All Visas for South Sudanese Passport Holders Over Deportation Row

The unprecedented move comes as South Sudan's political instability deepens, with fears of renewed civil war and ongoing diplomatic tensions with the United States.

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South Sudan soldiers patrol the street in Juba, South Sudan on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
FILE - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir attends the swearing-in ceremony for Kenya's new president William Ruto, at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi, Kenya on Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)

Overview

  • The United States has revoked all visas for South Sudanese passport holders and halted future visa issuance, citing South Sudan's refusal to accept deported citizens.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the decision reflects South Sudan's failure to adhere to international norms on repatriation, accusing its transitional government of 'taking advantage' of the US.
  • The visa revocation marks the first time the Trump administration has targeted all passport holders from a specific country, signaling a broader crackdown on immigration enforcement.
  • South Sudan faces escalating political instability, with Vice President Riek Machar under house arrest and renewed violence in the Upper Nile region raising fears of a return to civil war.
  • The move has significant implications for South Sudanese nationals in the US, including those under Temporary Protected Status, which is set to expire on May 3, 2025.