U.S. slaps full travel ban on South Sudan, cite visa overstays and deportation dispute

WASHINGTON – The United States has imposed a full entry restriction on South Sudanese nationals following a new presidential proclamation signed on Tuesday by President Donald Trump, further tightening immigration controls on countries Washington deems high-risk due to weak screening systems and poor cooperation on deportations.

Under the proclamation obtained by Sudans Post, South Sudan joins Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Syria as newly added countries facing full restrictions and entry limitations, effectively barring most of their nationals from entering the United States. The move expands an earlier list of 12 countries already subject to similar measures, including Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Libya.

The White House said the decision was based on “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies” in vetting, information-sharing, and compliance with U.S. immigration enforcement, arguing that the restrictions are necessary to protect national security and public safety.

For South Sudan, the proclamation cites high visa overstay rates and a longstanding failure to cooperate on the repatriation of deportable nationals.

According to the U.S. Overstay Report referenced in the proclamation, South Sudan recorded a 6.99 percent overstay rate for B-1/B-2 visitor visas and a significantly higher 26.09 percent overstay rate for F, M, and J visas, which cover students and exchange visitors.

The U.S. government also accused Juba of historically refusing to accept back its removable nationals, a factor that has repeatedly strained bilateral relations between the two countries.

While the ban is sweeping, the proclamation outlines limited exceptions. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders), existing visa holders, diplomats, certain athletes, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve U.S. national interests may still be allowed entry on a case-by-case basis. However, the proclamation narrows family-based immigrant visa exemptions, citing fraud risks, while maintaining discretionary waivers.

Diplomatic tensions and earlier visa revocations

The latest restriction follows earlier punitive measures taken by Washington against South Sudanese travellers.

In a notable diplomatic incident, the U.S. Department of State previously revoked visas held by South Sudanese passport holders after the government in Juba refused to accept a deportee from the United States, arguing that the individual was not a South Sudanese national.

That standoff triggered a series of diplomatic engagements between Washington and the Kiir administration aimed at resolving disputes over nationality verification and deportation procedures. Despite multiple discussions, U.S. officials expressed frustration over what they described as minimal progress and a lack of concrete commitments from South Sudanese authorities.

The visa revocations sent shockwaves through South Sudan’s political and diplomatic circles, affecting officials, students, businesspeople, and families with ties to the United States. Analysts warned at the time that continued non-cooperation could invite harsher measures—warnings that now appear to have materialised in the form of a full travel restriction.

Impact on South Sudanese nationals

The inclusion of South Sudan in the expanded travel ban is expected to have far-reaching consequences, particularly for students, families seeking reunification, and professionals pursuing opportunities in the United States.

South Sudanese communities in the diaspora have also raised concerns about the uncertainty surrounding future mobility and legal pathways to the U.S. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has yet to respond.