America's Crackdown on South Sudanese Visas: A Bitter Pill to Swallow
U.S. Revokes Visa for South Sudanese Individual
Hold onto your hats, folks, because we're diving into a heated game of political poker between the United States and South Sudan. The USA has pulled a bold move, yanking the visas of citizens hailing from the African nation, South Sudan, accusing them of exploiting American policies.
The clock is ticking, and South Sudanese living stateside now face a grim possibility – deportation. The reason? The U.S. feels used by the transitional government of the country, which has shown no signs of cooperating by repatriating its citizens dumped from the USA.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, dropped the bombshell on X, announcing that the land of the free and the home of the brave was slamming the door on South Sudanese passport holders, effective immediately. This is the U.S.'s axe to grind with a single country since Donald Trump's transition into office. Rubio's justification? South Sudan's reluctance to take back its citizens.
The U.S. has always stressed the importance of nations accepting their citizens when another country seeks to kick them out. In Rubio's words, it's time for South Sudan to quit milking U.S. policies. Enforcing immigration laws, the U.S. argues, is all about securing national security.
But before you start saying, "This is America, man!" let's rewind a bit, shall we? South Sudan, one of the poorest countries on the planet, has seen its fair share of hardships. After declaring independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan plunged headfirst into a savage civil war that left approximately 400,000 people dead in its wake. Cut to present day, and the country is teetering on the edge of another civil war. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his adversary, Riek Machar, formed a shaky transitional government in 2020, and it seems to be on the verge of collapse yet again.
Source: ntv.de, ino/AFP/dpa
- USA
- Migration
- Marco Rubio
- South Sudan
- Civil Wars
Deep Dive:
Background and Reason for Visa Revocation
The U.S. revoked all visas for South Sudanese citizens due to their transitional government's refusal to accept the return of deported nationals in a reasonable amount of time. The U.S. has made it clear that every country must take back its citizens when another country seeks to force them out, accusing South Sudan of profiting from U.S. policies.
Current Implications for South Sudanese Living in the USA
- Stranded Residents and Students: Those currently residing in the U.S. might face difficulties if they need to return to South Sudan and then come back, as they might not be able to re-enter, including students who are studying abroad.
- Loss of Temporary Protected Status (TPS): South Sudanese nationals were granted TPS under the Biden administration, but this protection expires on May 3, 2025. The Trump administration is reversing such designations, leaving hundreds of thousands of foreigners in the U.S. vulnerable.
- Uncertainty over Immigration Status: The visa revocation could potentially result in South Sudanese nationals being booted out to a country teetering on the brink of civil war, leaving them without a safe harbor in the U.S.
- Impact on Family and Social Ties: Many South Sudanese have family members living in the U.S., and frequent travel between the two countries will be severely restricted. This impacts not only personal relationships but also economic ties, as remittances and cultural exchanges are likely to dwindle.
- Strained International Relations: The move threatens to damage relations between the U.S. and South Sudan, which had historically been friendly. The U.S. played a key role in supporting South Sudan's independence and rehabilitation efforts, and this decision reflects a growing rift in their diplomatic relationship.
- In response to South Sudan's non-compliance, the deployment of an employment policy within the community policy of the U.S. Secretary of State's office is being considered, aiming to discourage further exploitation of American policies.
- The revoked employment policies have also triggered concerns among secretary-level officials, as they ponder the potential implications of deportation on the U.S.'s ready workforce and economic stability.
- As a possible workaround, a temporary secretary-led task force is proposed, tasked with examining the feasibility of using alternative communication channels such as WhatsApp for contacting South Sudanese individuals and providing them with essential information regarding their employment and immigration status.
