US Revokes Visas for South Sudanese Amid Repatriation Conflict

Visa cancellations underscore rising tensions over immigration policies and humanitarian concerns in South Sudan.

In a rapid response to a diplomatic stalemate, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the immediate cancellation of visas for all South Sudanese passport holders. This decision follows South Sudan's refusal to accept the repatriation of its citizens who have been deported from the United States. Rubio's statement, issued on Saturday, also included measures to impede any incoming South Sudanese individuals from entering US ports of entry.

Rubio cited the “failure of South Sudan's transitional government to process the return of its citizens expediently,” highlighting a growing frustration in US immigration policy during the Trump administration, which has prioritized the removal of undocumented migrants. "It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States," Rubio emphasized, insisting that each country must take responsibility for its citizens when repatriation is sought by another nation.

This crackdown comes at a precarious moment, as fears increase that South Sudan may once again plunge into civil strife. The ongoing conflict led the US to evacuate all non-emergency staff from the nation on March 8, in light of escalating violence that threatens the fragile peace agreed upon in a 2018 accord.

Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has faced internal strife, erupting into a civil war just two years later, which claimed over 400,000 lives. Although a peace agreement was reached in 2018 to end the fighting, essential components, including a new constitution and elections, remain unfulfilled, leading to continued local violence.

South Sudanese living in the US previously enjoyed Temporary Protected Status (TPS), affording them the legal right to remain, a status set to expire on May 3. The US government’s steadfast approach to immigration and deportation has recently led to friction with international governments, reminiscent of a previous diplomatic clash with Colombia over deportation flights. As tensions rise, analysts warn of escalating humanitarian challenges.