**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – The United States has announced the immediate revocation of visas for all South Sudanese passport holders, citing the East African nation’s refusal to accept its citizens deported from the U.S.
In a statement on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the U.S. will also deny entry to any South Sudanese nationals arriving at American ports of entry. He accused South Sudan’s transitional government of failing to cooperate in the repatriation of its citizens.
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another nation, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” Rubio said. “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States.”
The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which prioritize mass deportations of undocumented migrants.
The decision comes amid growing concerns that South Sudan could relapse into civil war. Earlier this year, the U.S. ordered non-emergency staff to evacuate the country as renewed clashes threatened a fragile 2018 peace deal.
South Sudanese in the U.S. had previously been granted **Temporary Protected Status (TPS)**, allowing them to stay for a limited period. However, their protected status was set to expire on **May 3, 2025**.
### **Background: South Sudan’s Turbulent History**
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence from Sudan in 2011. However, just two years later, political tensions between President **Salva Kiir** and then-Vice President **Riek Machar** plunged the country into a brutal civil war, leaving over **400,000 dead**.
A 2018 power-sharing agreement halted major fighting, but critical aspects of the deal—including a new constitution, elections, and the unification of armed forces—remain unfulfilled. Sporadic ethnic violence continues to destabilize parts of the country.
### **U.S. Clashes with Other Nations Over Deportations**
The Trump administration has faced resistance from several countries over deportations. In January, **Colombian President Gustavo Petro** initially blocked U.S. military flights carrying deported migrants before relenting under threat of U.S. sanctions and tariffs.
With visas restrictions now imposed on South Sudanese nationals, the U.S. signals a tougher stance on nations unwilling to accept deported citizens.
**Follow Nyanza Daily for more updates on this developing story.**
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