The US State Department has revoked all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders over the African country’s refusal to take back expatriates.

“I am taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and to restrict any further issuance to prevent entry into the United States, effective immediately,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday.

Rubio said his reason for revoking the visas held by South Sudanese passport holders is their government’s failure to accept the return of its repatriated citizens promptly.

Rubio also said that he would instruct the State Department to restrict any further issuance of visas to South Sudanese passport holders in the future to prevent entry into the United States.

The US would “prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders,” he said.

However, the US “will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation,” Rubio added.

The move was the first time the US State Department has singled out all passport holders from a particular country since Donald Trump assumed power in January.

Trump, who has promised his supporters to take a tougher anti-immigration stance during his second term, claims to be “at war” with immigration.

In the meantime, immigrants and their advocates are increasingly taking to US streets to decry the gross violation of internationally recognized human rights.

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