Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
US Implements Visa Revocation for South Sudanese Citizens Amid Deportation Standoff
The United States is revoking all visas for South Sudanese passport holders and halting new visa issuances, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Saturday. This action comes as Washington voices discontent over the African nation’s alleged refusal to accept the return of its citizens deported from the US, raising concerns about immigration policy and international cooperation.
Visa Cancellation and Entry Ban
The State Department is actively “undertaking measures to cancel all existing visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and prevent future approvals to restrict entry,” Rubio stated in an official announcement. This represents the first instance of such a sweeping measure targeting all passport holders from a specific country since the current administration assumed office on January 20th.
Justification for Visa Restrictions
Rubio criticized the transitional government in Juba for what he termed “taking advantage of the United States.” He asserted that “every nation must acknowledge the repatriation of its nationals promptly when another country endeavors to remove them.”
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Washington indicated its willingness to “reassess these actions when South Sudan demonstrates complete cooperation” on the matter of deportations.
South Sudan’s Internal Challenges
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation and among the most impoverished, is currently grappling with internal political tensions. Observers have expressed apprehension about a potential resurgence of the civil conflict that resulted in an estimated 400,000 fatalities between 2013 and 2018.
Temporary Protected Status and Policy Shift
Previously, South Sudanese individuals were beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted by the prior administration. This designation, which shields recipients from deportation, was slated to expire on May 3, 2025.
The TPS program is a provision allowing foreign nationals, who cannot safely return to their home countries due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions, to reside and work in the U.S.
Homeland Security Department figures from September 2023 indicated approximately 133 South Sudanese nationals in the US under TPS, with an additional 140 potentially eligible to apply.
Broader Immigration Policy Context
The current administration has initiated a trend of reversing TPS designations, having previously terminated protections for over 600,000 Venezuelans in January. However, a federal judge recently placed a hold on the Venezuela decision, questioning the government’s claims regarding criminality among Venezuelan TPS holders.
Data from the Pew Research Center, as of March 2024, showed 1.2 million individuals in the US either holding or eligible for TPS, with Venezuelans constituting the largest demographic. The action against South Sudan also follows increased attempts by African migrants to enter the US via the southern border, seen as an alternative to perilous routes to Europe.