This move comes as tensions mount in South Sudan and raises concerns about the future of its citizens residing in the US.
US Revokes Visas for South Sudanese Amid Deportation Controversy
US Revokes Visas for South Sudanese Amid Deportation Controversy
The US government has taken decisive action against South Sudanese passport holders, citing the country's refusal to accept deported citizens as the main reason.
The article text:
In a recent announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is rescinding visas for all South Sudanese passport holders. This decision results from the government's refusal to accept the return of its citizens who have been deported from the US. Furthermore, at ports of entry into the United States, South Sudanese citizens will be blocked from entering.
Rubio pointed to the failure of South Sudan's transitional government to manage the return of its expatriates promptly, emphasizing that every nation should facilitate the repatriation of its citizens when requested by another country. This decision underscores a central tenet of the Trump administration's immigration stance, which focuses on the aggressive deportation of unlawful migrants.
"It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States," Rubio remarked, reflecting a broader policy of the administration that stresses the importance of reciprocal responsibilities among nations in regard to immigration.
This announcement arrives against a backdrop of rising fears that South Sudan may slip back into civil conflict. Just recently, on March 8, the US government urged non-essential personnel to evacuate South Sudan as regional hostilities intensified, threatening the peace agreement established in 2018.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been mired in turmoil since a civil war erupted in 2013, resulting in the loss of over 400,000 lives. The fragile peace brought by a 2018 power-sharing agreement has seen key conditions, such as constitutional reforms and the unification of military factions, remain unfulfilled, exacerbating ongoing ethnic violence.
Historically, many South Sudanese residing in the US were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), allowing them to remain in the country for designated periods. However, this TPS status was set to expire on May 3, exacerbating uncertainty for the community.
The Trump administration's immigration policy has faced backlash globally, particularly regarding deportation practices. Earlier this year, tensions also flared when Colombian President Gustavo Petro barred US military flights transporting deported migrants from landing, only to relent under the threat of US-imposed tariffs and sanctions.
As situations evolve in both the US and South Sudan, the implications of these visa revocations remain significant, particularly for South Sudanese nationals caught in the crossfire of these geopolitical tensions.
In a recent announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is rescinding visas for all South Sudanese passport holders. This decision results from the government's refusal to accept the return of its citizens who have been deported from the US. Furthermore, at ports of entry into the United States, South Sudanese citizens will be blocked from entering.
Rubio pointed to the failure of South Sudan's transitional government to manage the return of its expatriates promptly, emphasizing that every nation should facilitate the repatriation of its citizens when requested by another country. This decision underscores a central tenet of the Trump administration's immigration stance, which focuses on the aggressive deportation of unlawful migrants.
"It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States," Rubio remarked, reflecting a broader policy of the administration that stresses the importance of reciprocal responsibilities among nations in regard to immigration.
This announcement arrives against a backdrop of rising fears that South Sudan may slip back into civil conflict. Just recently, on March 8, the US government urged non-essential personnel to evacuate South Sudan as regional hostilities intensified, threatening the peace agreement established in 2018.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been mired in turmoil since a civil war erupted in 2013, resulting in the loss of over 400,000 lives. The fragile peace brought by a 2018 power-sharing agreement has seen key conditions, such as constitutional reforms and the unification of military factions, remain unfulfilled, exacerbating ongoing ethnic violence.
Historically, many South Sudanese residing in the US were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), allowing them to remain in the country for designated periods. However, this TPS status was set to expire on May 3, exacerbating uncertainty for the community.
The Trump administration's immigration policy has faced backlash globally, particularly regarding deportation practices. Earlier this year, tensions also flared when Colombian President Gustavo Petro barred US military flights transporting deported migrants from landing, only to relent under the threat of US-imposed tariffs and sanctions.
As situations evolve in both the US and South Sudan, the implications of these visa revocations remain significant, particularly for South Sudanese nationals caught in the crossfire of these geopolitical tensions.
