Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that the United States is halting the issuance of new visas and revoking existing ones for South Sudanese passport holders, effective immediately. The decision follows ongoing tensions over immigration cooperation and the return of South Sudanese nationals who have been repatriated from the U.S. Rubio cited the South Sudanese transitional government’s unwillingness to facilitate timely returns as the primary reason for the move.
In a statement posted on X, Rubio expressed frustration with the lack of cooperation from South Sudan’s leadership. “Every nation has a responsibility to accept the return of its citizens,” he said. “South Sudan has repeatedly failed to do so, and the United States can no longer tolerate this disregard.” The U.S. State Department echoed the sentiment, stating it is time for the South Sudanese government to “stop taking advantage” of American goodwill and act responsibly.
The State Department emphasized that the enforcement of immigration law is vital to U.S. national security and public safety. It warned that these visa restrictions will remain in place until South Sudan complies fully with repatriation efforts. The department also noted it is open to reevaluating the policy once South Sudan demonstrates consistent cooperation in accepting its nationals.
According to Fox News, this diplomatic action coincides with growing unrest in South Sudan, which is currently experiencing heightened violence, displacement, and food shortages. The deteriorating situation threatens to push the country further into civil war. Meanwhile, in neighboring Sudan, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum remains closed following its suspension of services on April 22, 2023, due to escalating instability.
The decision also comes as part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which recently rescinded deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S. The move affects those who had been shielded under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, and it signals a stricter stance on immigration enforcement.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 300,000 foreign nationals protected under TPS are now subject to deportation. Since taking office, the Trump administration has deported over 100,000 undocumented immigrants, per a report from the New York Post citing a DHS official. These developments underscore the administration’s push to prioritize immigration control as a key element of national policy.
South Sudan, a landlocked country in East-Central Africa, shares borders with Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, and the Central African Republic to the west. Since gaining independence in 2011, it has faced ongoing political instability and conflict. Recent tensions between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar have escalated, leading to fears of renewed civil war. This instability has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, including widespread displacement and severe food insecurity.
