Mass Deportation: US Cancels All Visas of an Entire African Country Over Immigration Issues
- The US has announced the revoking of visas for South Sudanese passport holders due to the nation's refusal to accept repatriated citizens
- This decision aligned with President Trump's controversial immigration policy, which prioritised mass deportations of unlawful migrants
- The move to cancel visas comes amid concerns over South Sudan's political instability and fears of renewed civil conflict in the country
The United States has revoked all visas issued to South Sudanese passport holders, citing the African nation’s refusal to accept its repatriated citizens.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this decision on April 5, adding that South Sudanese citizens would also be barred from entering the US at ports of entry.
Source: Getty Images
According to the BBC, Rubio criticised South Sudan’s transitional government for failing to cooperate with repatriation efforts, stating:
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau alleged that South Sudan had refused to take back one person presumed to be from the African country because officials there had determined him to be Congolese after he arrived in Juba.
It is believed that the country accepted several other citizens who returned, except the deportee in question.
Trump administration’s immigration policy in action
The visa revocation aligns with President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, which prioritises the removal of unlawful migrants and promises 'mass deportations'.
South Sudanese nationals in the US had previously been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), allowing them to remain temporarily due to unsafe conditions in their home country.
However, TPS for South Sudanese was set to expire on May 3, further complicating their status.
Concerns over South Sudan’s stability
The decision comes amid growing fears that South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, may descend into civil war.
The country gained independence in 2011 but was plunged into conflict two years later, resulting in over 400,000 deaths.
A 2018 peace agreement halted the fighting, but key provisions, including a new constitution and unified armed forces, remain unfulfilled.
Recent violence and political tensions have further destabilised the fragile peace, with the US recently evacuating non-emergency staff from South Sudan.
Source: Getty Images
South Sudan reacts to US visa revocation
Meanwhile, South Sudan's government on Monday, April 7, issued a statement clarifying a recent deportation dispute with the United States, asserting that the individual at the centre of the issue was not a South Sudanese national, as claimed, but a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The man, who had arrived at Juba International Airport on April 5, 2025, was initially identified in US documents as Nimeri Garang, a South Sudanese national.
However, South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the individual’s true identity is Makula Kintu, a DRC citizen born in North Kivu.
The ministry stated that the individual had presented a South Sudanese travel document under false pretences.
“We have conducted comprehensive verification processes that confirmed the individual’s true nationality as Congolese. In accordance with our immigration protocols, he was not admitted and was subsequently returned to the sending country for further processing,” said Apuk Ayuel Mayen, spokesperson for South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
South Sudan stressed its continued cooperation with US authorities on immigration matters. According to the ministry, the country has facilitated the repatriation of 21 out of 23 identified individuals, with only two confirmed non-South Sudanese nationals: Kintu, a Congolese citizen, and another individual from Sudan.
The ministry also noted that Nimeri Garang, for whom the travel document was originally issued, is scheduled to arrive in Juba on May 13, 2025, via Egypt Air.
South Sudan expressed regret over the situation and reaffirmed its commitment to working with the United States to resolve the matter through constructive dialogue.
Read also
South Sudan announces it will allow entry of a man deported from US after visa cancellation
The country reiterated its commitment to accepting bona fide South Sudanese nationals while continuing to engage with the US on immigration and deportation issues in line with international standards.
Who are South Sudanese people?
South Sudanese people are the citizens of South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011.
The population is diverse, comprising numerous ethnic groups, including the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk, with a rich cultural heritage rooted in traditional music, dance, and storytelling.
However, the country has faced significant challenges, including a devastating civil war that erupted in 2013, leading to the loss of over 400,000 lives and displacing millions.
Despite ongoing struggles with political instability, poverty, and sporadic violence, the South Sudanese exhibit resilience and hope, striving for peace, development, and nation-building in their fledgling state.
Attorney explores legal option for South Sudan visa revocation
Magnus N. Amudi, an immigration attorney and the founder of Amudi Law, LLC, based in New York, told Legit.ng that legal avenues remain for South Sudanese nationals affected by the recent US visa revocation to challenge the decision.
Citing a similar case, he explained that in 'National TPS Alliance v. Noem', the National TPS Alliance and seven Venezuelan Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders challenged the US Department of Homeland Security’s decision to cancel the January 2025 extension of Venezuela’s TPS and terminate the 2023 TPS designation affecting over 600,000 citizens.
Amudi added that plaintiffs in the referenced case, filed on February 19, 2025, argued violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause, claiming actions were 'arbitrary, capricious, and motivated by racial animus'.
“On March 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen granted a preliminary injunction, halting the termination of TPS for Venezuelans. He cited potential irreparable harm to beneficiaries and questioned the government's rationale, noting that characterizations of Venezuelan TPS holders as criminals appeared to be racially motivated," the legal expert added.
Visa revocation: No nationality feels safe - lawyer
US immigration attorney Akua O. Aboagye, founder of AK Poku Law, PLLC, has also reacted to the mass visa revocation for South Sudanese nationals in the US.
“South Sudanese nationals who are already lawfully present in the U.S. and maintaining valid status are not automatically losing their legal right to stay,” Aboagye told Legit.ng.
“However, the visa revocation increases their vulnerability - especially in cases involving future travel, visa renewals, or if they are targeted for enforcement based on other factors like student activism or past encounters with law enforcement.”
According to her, the mass visa revocation has caused deep anxiety and legal uncertainty among immigrants, particularly 'those from vulnerable and underrepresented communities'.
“No one knows which nationality might be targeted next. And it’s no longer just your actions that put you at risk. Decisions made by your home government, even actions completely out of your control, can suddenly affect your ability to live, study, or work in the United States," she added.
US sends message to visa holders
Legit.ng also reported that the U.S. Department of State reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring visa holders comply with all U.S. laws and immigration regulations in a Facebook post on March 17.
The statement emphasised that visa screening does not end once a visa is issued, as the department continuously monitors visa holders to ensure adherence to legal and immigration requirements.
The post warned that non-compliance could result in visa revocation and deportation, depicting the department's proactive approach to immigration oversight and upholding visa integrity.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from US-based immigration lawyers for this report.
Head of the Politics and Current Affairs Desk, Nurudeen Lawal, contributed the South Sudanese government's official response to this report.
PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.
Nkem Ikeke (Copy editor) Nkem Ikeke is currently a copy editor who also writes for the politics and current affairs desk on weekends. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2010), and has over 10 years of work experience in the media industry (Reporter, News Agency of Nigeria). Email: n.ikeke@corp.legit.ng
