Washington, D.C. – The United States government has officially cancelled all visas previously granted to holders of South Sudanese passports, citing the country’s continued refusal to accept its citizens who are subject to deportation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement on April 5, stating that the move is in direct response to South Sudan’s failure to cooperate with repatriation efforts. As a result, South Sudanese nationals will also be denied entry at American borders and ports of entry.
Rubio explained that the decision falls in line with broader U.S. immigration enforcement measures, particularly under former President Donald Trump’s policy framework, which prioritized the mass removal of undocumented immigrants.
“Every sovereign nation has an obligation to receive its citizens when deportation proceedings are carried out,” Rubio said, as reported by the BBC. “South Sudan has consistently failed to meet this obligation.”
This visa revocation underscores the implementation of Trump-era immigration directives. While some South Sudanese nationals residing in the U.S. were previously protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to unsafe conditions in their home country, that designation is now set to expire on May 3.
With the expiration of TPS and the new visa ban in effect, many South Sudanese citizens in the U.S. face increased uncertainty about their legal standing and future.
The U.S. decision comes against the backdrop of increasing instability in South Sudan. Despite gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, the country has been plagued by internal conflict. A civil war that began in 2013 caused widespread devastation, killing more than 400,000 people and displacing millions.
Although a peace deal was signed in 2018, key components of the agreement—such as forming a unified army and drafting a new national constitution—have yet to be completed. Recently, escalating violence and political unrest have further threatened the country’s fragile peace, prompting the U.S. to withdraw non-essential diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Juba.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is home to a culturally diverse population that includes ethnic groups such as the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk. Despite a rich heritage reflected in their traditional music, dance, and storytelling, the South Sudanese have endured immense hardships due to recurring conflict, economic struggles, and political instability.
