The United States Department of State has announced an immediate revocation of all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders. The decision comes in response to South Sudan's transitional government's failure to comply with the principle of accepting the return of its citizens in a timely manner. The U.S. emphasizes that enforcing immigration laws is crucial for national security and public safety.
The Department of State stated, "Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them." The current South Sudanese administration, according to the U.S., has not fully respected this principle. In light of this non-compliance, the U.S. has chosen to revoke visas and prevent further issuance to South Sudanese passport holders, thereby restricting their entry into the United States.
The United States has expressed its willingness to reassess this visa policy if and when the South Sudanese government demonstrates full cooperation. The State Department declared, "We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation."
