Chol Majok, a Syracuse councilor from South Sudan, is advocating for the U.S. to reverse its recent visa ban affecting South Sudanese citizens. This policy stems from South Sudan’s failure to accept deportees and has raised concerns among the local community, particularly regarding its implications for individuals in education and athletics. Majok calls the decision detrimental and urges for a reconsideration.
Chol Majok, a Syracuse councilor and South Sudan native, is urging the U.S. to reverse a new visa ban impacting South Sudanese citizens. This decision, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was due to South Sudan’s failure to timely accept deportees. The ban has raised significant concerns within Syracuse’s large South Sudanese community, particularly regarding the deportation of non-South Sudanese nationals.
Majok, who previously won election as Syracuse’s first refugee councilor, expressed empathy for the policy aimed at protecting U.S. borders but highlighted its detrimental impact on South Sudanese nationals studying in the U.S. and excelling in sports. He described the visa ban as “overzealous” and damaging, as it affects the lives of many people connected to South Sudan.
He emphasized the challenges posed by the new visa policies, stating that the broad approach discourages individuals from South Sudan from entering the U.S. Majok mentioned receiving numerous calls from residents anxious about family members’ statuses and urged that the visa recall does not reflect American values.
He remains hopeful for a reevaluation of the U.S. government’s stance and noted the need for increased resources for the Syracuse area’s refugee services to support incoming South Sudanese nationals. South Sudanese officials criticized the visa ban as unjust, asserting their cooperation with U.S. deportation requests, while indicating readiness to restore visa operations upon improved cooperation with the U.S.
Chol Majok’s plea against the visa ban highlights significant issues faced by South Sudanese nationals in Syracuse, balancing national security with humanitarian concerns. The recent U.S. policy has profound implications for individuals thriving in education and athletics, prompting calls for a reassessment of the ban. As South Sudan continues to recover from civil strife, Majok’s advocacy underscores the necessity of maintaining support and open communication between the two nations.
Original Source: spectrumlocalnews.com
