By Yiep Joseph
United States of America has issued a drastic order immediately revoking visas for South Sudanese passport holders and will not issue new ones, citing the Country’s failure to repatriate its citizens in a timely manner.
“It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States.
Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them, a statement issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio partly read.
“As South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle, effective immediately, the United States Department of State is taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders. We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation.”
South Sudan Government is yet to comment, however, Alma Dhieu one of the South Sudanese residing in the United States said that the US decision is beyond the reason stated in the statement.
Deng claimed that the few South Sudanese who were on a list of deportation were sent back by the South Sudan Embassy not as claimed by the US Secretary of State.
“South Sudan has done nothing wrong in this case. The government acted with diligence, transparency, and in full cooperation with international protocols” Deng said.
He expressed that the United States may have a different agenda for the decision that is not connected with the deportation process which the Embassy responded to positively.
In a separate statement, a civil society activist called on United States of America (USA) to reconsider the Visa restriction on South Sudan citing that it affects innocent South Sudanese.
Ter Manyang, The Executive Director of Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) expressed that the Visa ban affected many South Sudanese who are not part of decision-making.
“As a human rights organization, we call upon the U.S. Department of State to reconsider its decision. Punishing innocent citizens for the wrongdoings of corrupt elites who exploit the country’s resources is unjust” he said.
“The U.S, as a global contributor in promoting peace, security, human rights, the rule of law, and democracy, should set an example by not allowing the actions of a few individuals to harm the broader population of South Sudan,” he added.
He expressed that the US can punish individuals but can not punish the entire country.
South Sudanese individuals in the US were previously granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows them to stay in the US for a designated period.
TPS for South Sudanese in the US is set to expire on May 3.
South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, achieved independence in 2011 after seceding from Sudan.