U.S. Blocks South Sudanese Visa Access Amid Deportation Standoff
Galaxy Tribune Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government has revoked all visas issued to South Sudanese nationals and announced a halt to new visa approvals for citizens of the East African nation. The State Department made this move in response to South Sudan’s refusal to accept deported individuals from the United States.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized the urgency of the decision, stating, “Effective immediately, all visa appointments for South Sudanese are cancelled. No one from South Sudan will enter the U.S. on a visa until this issue is resolved.”
U.S. officials accused South Sudan of failing to meet its obligation to accept its citizens when deported. “Every country must take back its nationals when asked. South Sudan has not done so,” Landau added.
South Sudan’s Cooperation Called into Question
According to the State Department, the dispute centers around one individual believed to be a South Sudanese citizen. Washington claims that attempts to resolve the matter through diplomacy were dismissed by South Sudanese authorities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration may reconsider the restrictions if South Sudan fully cooperates. “We’re open to reviewing this decision once they begin engaging in good faith,” Rubio noted.
This sweeping visa ban marks a significant shift in the Trump administration’s immigration strategy, targeting an entire nationality for the first time under such comprehensive restrictions.
Temporary Protection Status Set to Expire
South Sudanese nationals living in the U.S. have held Temporary Protected Status (TPS) since 2011, a policy initiated under former President Obama due to ongoing violence after South Sudan’s independence. TPS allows beneficiaries to remain in the U.S., work legally, and travel.
The Biden administration extended TPS protections last September, but they are scheduled to lapse next month. As of last year, 133 South Sudanese nationals were part of the program, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Former President Trump has pushed to end TPS protections for several countries—including Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua—potentially impacting over 500,000 people. However, a recent court ruling halted the effort to remove TPS protections for Venezuelans.
Renewed Clashes Fuel Political Tension
South Sudan is again facing a political and humanitarian crisis. Fighting recently broke out in the eastern city of Nasir between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with Vice-President Riek Machar. Their rivalry, rooted in ethnic divisions between the Dinka and Nuer groups, previously triggered a civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people.
In 2018, Uganda and Sudan brokered a fragile peace agreement, dividing power between the two leaders. But that deal appears to be unraveling. Last month, authorities placed Machar and his wife, Interior Minister Angelina Teny, under house arrest. Several of his allies have also been removed from office.
Mediators Arrive as Regional Stability Hangs in the Balance
The African Union has deployed mediators to Juba, including Burundi’s former president Domitien Ndayizeye and Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Odinga, in an effort to prevent further escalation.
Humanitarian experts warn the situation is deteriorating quickly. Former UN envoy Mukesh Kapila said, “South Sudan has been in constant conflict since its birth. It was never truly resolved—just delayed.” He added that the international community seems distracted and slow to intervene.
The ceasefire is now under immense pressure, as South Sudan also struggles with economic collapse, unpaid public workers, and an influx of over 600,000 Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict across the northern border. With oil exports halted and budgets stretched, the country’s fragile peace appears to be hanging by a thread.
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