The United States has announced the immediate cancellation of visas for all individuals holding South Sudanese passports and will deny entry to any future travelers from the country.

According to the State Department, this action comes in response to South Sudan’s non-cooperation with the U.S. regarding the repatriation of its nationals. The department accused South Sudan of exploiting American immigration policies by failing to accept the return of its citizens.

“It is the responsibility of every nation to accept their citizens when other countries, including the United States, seek to repatriate them,” the department stated.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau noted that the current disagreement centers around one individual identified as a South Sudanese citizen. He claimed that diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter with South Sudan’s officials had gone unanswered.

“All scheduled visa interviews are cancelled, no new visas will be processed, and current visas are now invalid. As a result, no South Sudanese nationals will be permitted entry into the United States until this standoff is resolved,” Landau shared in an online message.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the U.S. is open to reevaluating this decision, but only if South Sudan fully cooperates with American demands.

President Donald Trump, who emphasized a hardline immigration stance during his election campaign, has employed various strategies to increase deportations during his presidency. However, this is the first instance he has imposed such a sweeping visa measure against citizens of a specific nation.

Back in 2011, the Obama administration granted “temporary protected status” (TPS) to South Sudanese residents in the U.S., citing the country’s instability following its independence from Sudan. TPS allows recipients to remain in the U.S., seek employment, and travel freely.

The Biden administration extended this status last September, but it is currently set to expire in the coming month. The Department of Homeland Security reported that around 133 South Sudanese individuals were enrolled in the TPS program last year.

President Trump has also sought to dismantle TPS coverage for several other countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—a move that could impact roughly 500,000 people. A court ruling in recent weeks temporarily blocked the termination of TPS protections for Venezuelans.

Meanwhile, tensions in South Sudan have been escalating. Armed confrontations between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and supporters of Vice President Riek Machar erupted recently in the eastern town of Nasir.

The rivalry between Kiir and Machar, who hail from the prominent Dinka and Nuer ethnic tribes respectively, led to the deaths of about 400,000 people during a five-year civil war. A 2018 ceasefire, brokered by Uganda and Sudan, allocated government roles among their factions to end the conflict.

“Since its inception, South Sudan has existed in a state of civil instability, sometimes overt and sometimes latent,” commented Mukesh Kapila, a former top U.N. official in Sudan. He emphasized that core disagreements between Kiir and Machar had never been adequately addressed.

The political accord faced serious challenges after oil exports from South Sudan were interrupted due to the ongoing war in neighboring Sudan. As oil contributes nearly 70% of the South Sudanese economy, the halt caused major financial strain. The influx of over 600,000 Sudanese refugees has further burdened national resources.

The country’s fiscal woes have resulted in widespread unpaid wages among public workers for nearly a year, while renewed clashes between Kiir and Machar loyalists have further destabilized the region.

Last month, Machar was placed under house arrest alongside his spouse, Angelina Teny, who serves as the interior minister. Members of his political group argued that this move effectively invalidated the 2018 peace deal. Several key allies of Machar had also been dismissed from their positions in the weeks prior.

In response to the deteriorating situation, the African Union dispatched a mediation team to South Sudan’s capital, Juba. The delegation includes Domitien Ndayizeye, former president of Burundi, and former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who will work to foster dialogue between the opposing leaders.

Kapila stressed that the situation presents serious risks but voiced concern that, due to competing global crises, the international community may lack the will or attention to intervene and prevent a return to widespread conflict.