WASHINGTON, DC — AMID a broader crackdown on immigration, the United States government has taken a decisive step against South Sudan, revoking visas for all South Sudanese passport holders.
The move is intended to pressure South Sudan’s leaders into accepting the repatriation of their nationals being deported from the US.
The US has intensified efforts to deport individuals— including criminals, green card holders, legal residents, and even protestors of certain US policies—prompting tensions with countries reluctant to accept their returning citizens.
To address this, the Trump administration has increasingly relied on visa sanctions and trade tariffs as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. South Sudan is the latest country to face such measures.
Last month, the US withdrew non-emergency diplomatic personnel from South Sudan, a country still reeling from years of violent conflict.
It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States,"said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them."
South Sudanese nationals were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the Biden administration in 2023. However, the current administration has been rolling back several of Biden’s immigration policies as part of its renewed deportation efforts.
"As South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle, effective immediately, the United States Department of State is taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders," the statement continued. "We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation,
This move comes as several countries push back against the US's aggressive deportation policies and raise concerns about the conditions under which their nationals are returned.
Earlier this year, Colombia temporarily refused to accept deportation flights from the US, prompting Washington to threaten visa revocations for the Colombian president and members of his administration. The standoff ended when Colombia agreed to resume cooperation.
