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In a significant move, the Trump administration has announced the revocation of all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders.

The decision, shared by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday, comes as a response to South Sudan's failure to accept the repatriation of its citizens deported by the US government.

Rubio stated that this marks the first time the administration has targeted the passport holders of a specific country as part of its broader effort to push nations into accepting deported migrants.

"It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States," Rubio said.

According to USA Today, he emphasized that every country must accept the return of its citizens when another country, including the US, seeks to remove them.

This move includes halting the issuance of new visas for South Sudanese nationals, further restricting their entry into the United States. Rubio added, "We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation."

US Cancels Visas for South Sudan Amid Fears of Renewed Civil War

The announcement comes amid concerns over the political instability in South Sudan, a country already recovering from years of civil war.

Despite the country's ongoing challenges, the US government granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to South Sudanese nationals in 2023, which is set to expire on May 3, 2025. Currently, about 155 South Sudanese are living in the U.S. under this status.

In the past, the US supported South Sudan's independence, but the situation has dramatically changed. The country has been plagued by violence, corruption, and political turmoil, particularly between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar.

After a violent civil war between 2013 and 2018, the two men agreed to a peace deal in 2018, AP News said.

However, the peace has remained fragile, and recent tensions have caused concern that the country could return to full-scale conflict.

Amid these tensions, South Sudan's government has struggled to deliver basic services and relies heavily on foreign aid, much of which has been impacted by US cuts.

Now, with US visas revoked, many South Sudanese may face uncertainty, unable to seek refuge in the United States or return to a country on the brink of civil war.

The decision revolves around South Sudan's refusal to accept the return of a single individual, certified by South Sudan's embassy in Washington.

This has escalated the situation, leading to the visa revocation. While there has been no immediate response from South Sudan's government, the US has made it clear that it will reconsider the decision once South Sudan is fully cooperating.

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