**Trump Administration Takes Hard Stance on South Sudanese Visas Amid Deportation Dispute**

The decision underlines ongoing tensions related to immigration policies and international relations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday a sweeping revocation of visas for South Sudanese passport holders. This decision stems from the transitional government's consistent failure to accept the timely deportation of its citizens by the U.S. administration. Rubio stated on social media that not only would all existing visas be revoked, but new issuance will also be restricted, attributing these measures to what he described as the South Sudanese government's failure to cooperate with repatriations.

This action echoes a similar threat made by former President Trump in late January against Colombian officials, when he contemplated revoking visas and imposing tariffs due to their refusal to allow U.S. military flights carrying deported Colombians. Following Trump's warning, Colombian authorities quickly changed their stance.

The ongoing efforts to expedite deportations reflect the Trump administration's intensified focus on immigration policy, a key promise made during Trump's campaign. Although some individuals facing deportation have challenged the administration's actions through the courts, resulting in temporary restraining orders from judges, the administration remains adamant in its strategy.

Critics, including Lucas Guttentag, a former Justice Department official under President Biden, have condemned this approach, describing it as harmful to innocent visa holders and indicative of a broader trend of targeting individuals based on nationality rather than engaging in effective diplomacy. Meanwhile, South Sudanese government officials were unavailable for comment regarding this significant development.