State Department revokes visas for South Sudanese amid national security concerns

The Department of State held a press briefing on April 8, 2025, addressing significant concerns regarding the cancellation of student visas and the revocation of visas for South Sudanese passport holders.

During the briefing, officials responded to inquiries about the recent surge in student visa cancellations, which have reportedly occurred with little notice and often without clear explanations. Some students have claimed that their visas were revoked due to minor infractions, such as reckless driving citations. In response, the spokesperson emphasized that the Department does not disclose specific details about individual visa cases due to privacy concerns. However, they reiterated that visa revocations are a routine measure taken to ensure national security and public safety.

The discussion also highlighted the situation concerning South Sudan, where the U.S. has revoked visas for South Sudanese passport holders. This action stems from the South Sudanese government's failure to accept the return of its citizens who are illegally present in the U.S. The spokesperson noted that the U.S. is committed to enforcing immigration laws and will review the visa revocation actions once South Sudan demonstrates full cooperation in accepting its citizens.

In addition to these topics, there was a brief mention of cuts to certain programs, although specific details were not provided during the briefing. The spokesperson promised to follow up with more information on this matter.

Overall, the meeting underscored the Department of State's ongoing efforts to manage immigration and border security while navigating complex international relations, particularly with countries like South Sudan.