The United States has revoked all visas issued to South Sudanese citizens and announced an immediate entry ban at all US ports of entry, escalating tensions between Washington and Africa’s youngest nation.
In a statement released on Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited South Sudan’s refusal to accept the return of its nationals deported from the United States as the reason for the dramatic decision.
“The failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner cannot be overlooked,” Rubio said. “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States.”
The move is the latest in the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigration, which has focused heavily on removing undocumented migrants and pressuring foreign governments to cooperate in repatriation efforts. President Trump has long promised “mass deportations” as a pillar of his immigration policy.
The visa ban comes amid growing instability in South Sudan, where renewed regional fighting has threatened a fragile 2018 peace agreement. On 8 March, the US State Department ordered the evacuation of all non-emergency staff from the country.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, descended into a brutal civil war just two years later. A rift between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar sparked widespread violence that killed more than 400,000 people. While the 2018 peace deal halted large-scale conflict, key provisions—such as the drafting of a new constitution and the formation of a unified national army—remain unfulfilled. Sporadic clashes between ethnic and political factions continue to undermine stability.
Until now, South Sudanese nationals residing in the US were protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), allowing them to remain in the country temporarily due to unsafe conditions back home. That protection was due to expire on 3 May.
The revocation of visas and travel restrictions could have immediate consequences for South Sudanese nationals in the US, including students and professionals. One high-profile figure potentially affected is 18-year-old basketball prodigy Khaman Maluach, a first-year student at Duke University and a member of South Sudan’s Olympic basketball team. Maluach, who fled the country as a child and spent much of his early life in Uganda, is expected to enter the NBA after graduation.
Duke University issued a statement on Sunday, saying it was “aware of the announcement… regarding visa holders from South Sudan” and is “working expeditiously to understand any implications for Duke students.”
This is not the first time the Trump administration has confronted other nations over repatriation issues. In January, Colombian President Gustavo Petro briefly barred US military flights carrying deported migrants from landing, prompting Trump to threaten punitive tariffs and sanctions. Petro reversed the decision soon after.
As Washington intensifies its enforcement of immigration rules, critics warn that the hardline approach could worsen relations with already fragile states and place vulnerable migrants at greater risk.
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