Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that he is revoking visas for all South Sudan passport holders. This decision comes after South Sudan’s transitional government failed to accept deported citizens in a timely manner. Rubio stated that he would also restrict further visa issuance to South Sudanese individuals, blaming the government’s lack of cooperation on repatriations.
In a social media post, Rubio emphasized that these actions could be reviewed if South Sudan begins to cooperate fully. This move echoes a previous threat made by President Trump in January, when he warned Colombian officials about visa revocations and tariffs due to their refusal to accept deported citizens. Colombia quickly reversed its decision in that instance.
Rubio’s actions reflect the Trump administration’s strong focus on deporting foreign nationals from the United States, a promise Trump made during his campaign. This latest visa revocation highlights the ongoing tension between the U.S. government and South Sudan regarding the treatment of deportees.