06/04/2025
The truth behind the U.S. visa revocation for South Sudanese citizens
By Alma Deŋ Dhieu
Just yesterday, an alarming announcement surfaced online, directly from U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio, stating that all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders are being revoked, with further issuance halted. The reason cited? The alleged failure of the South Sudanese transitional government to cooperate in accepting repatriated citizens.
Let me be clear—this is a deeply misleading narrative, and I feel compelled to speak up not only to defend the integrity of South Sudan, but also to protect the truth in a world that’s already too saturated with misinformation.
HERE IS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
Few months ago, when the United States initiated the deportation of undocumented individuals, 24 people were reportedly identified as South Sudanese and presented to the Embassy in Washington DC for repatriation. True to protocol and in a show of responsible governance, the South Sudan Embassy conducted a thorough background check to verify the nationalities of the individuals.
Out of the 24, 21 were confirmed as South Sudanese and were returned to Juba without any resistance or delay. One was a Somali, another from Northern Sudan, and the last—whose case has sparked this diplomatic tension—refused to reveal his true identity due to a complicated and troubling criminal history.
This individual, who falsely claimed to be South Sudanese under the name “Garang” (a common South Sudanese name), is actually Congolese by origin. His story is one of deception. He initially entered the U.S. in earlier times but was deported in 2009. He then made his other ways to return to the US after the change of the government but was again forced to leave ie self deportation in 2016.
2 years later, he reentered the country again through Mexico right to the state of Illinois (Chicago) — this time using fake documents and a stolen identity.
Him being in the list of the 24 people, the US government told Embassy to either deport him or face sanctions.
The Embassy accepted due to the pressure given even after knowing that he’s not a South Sudan national. He was deported to Juba but upon his arrival, South Sudan government officials at Juba International airport checked his background, scrutinized the identity he presented, and found out—with certainty—that he was not South Sudanese. The authorities, acting on principle, refused to grand him entry more over with his crimes follows his deportation from the US. They had returned him to the U.S., as is right. He will be landing at JFK Airport today. And this what pi**ed off Secretary Marco Rubio, terming it a failure to return the repatriated citizens in a timely manner.
Unfortunately, this single incident has been blown out of proportion, and the entire South Sudanese population is now being punished for something they had no hand in. This is not only unjust—it is dehumanizing.
Let’s be honest: South Sudan has done nothing wrong in this case. The government acted with diligence, transparency, and in full cooperation with international protocols. Punishing South Sudanese citizens for the misrepresentation of one individual—who is not even a South Sudanese — is deeply unfair.
To the media outlets who rushed to publish without verifying facts, I urge you to do better. Do not let sensationalism cloud judgment. Journalism must serve truth—not traffic.
To the citizens of South Sudan and the whole world, let’s not internalize this misplaced blame. The government did the right thing, and the truth will vindicate. The man responsible for this diplomatic mishap will soon be fully exposed for who he truly is—a Congolese national, not a South Sudanese.
Let us be vigilant in protecting the truth. We must never let misinformation rob us of our dignity or fracture the bonds we hold as a people.
I am Alma Deŋ Dhieu, and I stand for truth, justice, and the right of every citizen to be treated fairly.
