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Duke Basketball Player’s Visa Status in Question Following State Department Decision
A prominent Duke University basketball player is facing potential deportation due to a recent State Department ruling affecting South Sudanese visa holders. This development comes shortly after the team’s narrow defeat in the Final Four tournament against Houston, adding off-court concerns for the university.
Visa Revocation Announced by Secretary of State
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced via social media on Saturday the initiation of actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders. This policy change directly impacts Duke University’s freshman center, Khaman Maluach, a key player for the Blue Devils.
Maluach, originally from South Sudan, recently concluded his freshman season with Duke’s loss to Houston. The timing of the announcement has raised concerns about his immediate future in the United States.
Reasoning Behind the Visa Restrictions
Rubio stated that the visa restrictions are a consequence of the South Sudanese transitional government’s “failure… to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner.” This indicates that the US government is citing the South Sudanese government’s delayed process in accepting deported migrants as the reason for the stringent visa policy.
University Response to Student’s Situation
Following the announcement and the team’s game, Maluach did not comment to reporters on the developing situation.
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Duke University spokesman Frank Tramble issued a statement indicating that the institution is actively “looking into the situation” and is urgently working to fully understand the potential implications for Duke students affected by this new State Department policy.
Broader Impact of State Department Policy
A State Department representative, in a statement to USA TODAY, clarified that the decision encompasses “all those who have a US visa in a South Sudanese passport and anyone with a South Sudanese passport who is applying for a US visa.”
The representative added that the State Department will release “further information and instructions to affected visa holders and applicants as it is available,” suggesting that further guidance and details are forthcoming for those impacted by this wide-ranging policy shift.