State Department Revokes, Halts Visas for South Sudan Over Refusal of Deportees

Rubio said the freeze will remain in force until South Sudan is ‘in full cooperation.’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with the media on his military airplane as he flies to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 10, 2025. Saul Loeb/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The State Department has announced it is freezing all existing and new visas for South Sudanese seeking to enter the United States, citing the transitional government’s refusal to accept its own nationals being deported from the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the new visa and travel restrictions on Saturday, while accusing the East African nation’s leadership of “taking advantage of the United States.”