U.S. revokes visas for South Sudanese nationals amid diplomatic dispute

Sunday 06 April 2025 - 09:00

By: Zahouani Ilham

U.S. revokes visas for South Sudanese nationals amid diplomatic dispute

On April 5th, the United States announced the revocation of all visas issued to South Sudanese nationals, accusing the African country of failing to cooperate in the deportation of its citizens. U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed the move, stating that the U.S. government was compelled to take action due to South Sudan's lack of compliance with U.S. immigration laws. This measure is the first of its kind since Donald Trump’s return to power on January 20th, marking a continuation of his stringent immigration policies.

Rubio emphasized the importance of enforcing U.S. immigration laws for national security and public safety, urging that all countries should accept the repatriation of their citizens when another nation, including the U.S., seeks to expel them. In addition to revoking existing visas, the U.S. will halt the issuance of new visas to South Sudanese nationals. Rubio indicated that the policy could be reviewed if South Sudan becomes fully cooperative.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been plagued by violence and internal conflict, with a recent warning from the United Nations suggesting the country may descend back into civil war. The conflict, which between 2013 and 2018 led to nearly 400,000 deaths and displaced four million people, has severely hindered the country’s recovery.

This decision recalls the 2017 "Muslim Ban" enacted by Trump, which banned nationals from several predominantly Muslim countries, including Libya, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Somalia, from entering the U.S.