Washington D.C., USA — South Sudan’s recently appointed Foreign Minister has embarked on a high-profile diplomatic mission to the United States this week, signaling a renewed effort by Juba to strengthen bilateral relations and reposition the country on the global stage.
The visit included closed-door meetings with U.S. State Department officials, diaspora community leaders, and humanitarian partners. While the official agenda focused on regional stability, economic cooperation, and upcoming elections in 2026, one contentious issue dominated the sidelines: the status and repatriation of South Sudanese nationals facing deportation from the United States.
The United States has long faced difficulties repatriating South Sudanese nationals with expired immigration status, criminal convictions, or failed asylum claims. Many of these individuals have lived in the U.S. for decades, often fleeing war and persecution. With tensions rising over immigration, Washington is pushing for South Sudan to accept deported individuals.
One alarming development raised during informal discussions is a proposal for South Sudan to serve as a third-party hosting ground for deported foreign nationals from other countries — particularly from neighboring East African and Middle Eastern regions.
This would involve the relocation of non-South Sudanese deportees to camps or transitional centers on South Sudanese soil in exchange for international funding or development aid.
SSYR strongly condemns this proposal. Such a move would compromise South Sudan’s sovereignty, overwhelm its fragile systems, and place the burden of foreign political problems on our already struggling youth, security, and economy.
As the South Sudan Youth Reforms (SSYR), we firmly believe that national dignity and human rights must come first in any such agreement. Accepting deportees without thorough vetting, integration planning, or bilateral oversight mechanisms is both irresponsible and unjust.
Our recommendations:
“We are not criminals — we are survivors. South Sudan should protect us, not punish us,” said a South Sudanese father of three currently facing deportation in Texas.
For many in the diaspora, the fear is not just of deportation, but of returning to a country with limited infrastructure, legal protections, or social services.
While the United States seeks to enforce its immigration laws, South Sudan must tread carefully to avoid trading sovereignty for short-term political favor. Any agreement must prioritize national interest, citizen safety, and the values of justice and due process.
This visit could mark a fresh start for South Sudan–US relations. But only if both countries approach the deportation issue with mutual respect, strategic clarity, and a shared commitment to human dignity.
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