In an unprecedented diplomatic move that has sent shockwaves across the African continent, the United States government has announced the cancellation of all visa categories for citizens of Eritrea, citing the East African nation’s continued refusal to accept its deported nationals.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the State Department, revealed this dramatic policy shift yesterday during a press briefing in Washington, where officials detailed the implementation of visa sanctions under Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“After years of diplomatic engagement and repeated warnings, the United States has been forced to impose the most severe visa restrictions possible against Eritrea due to their persistent refusal to issue travel documents for their citizens who have been ordered removed from the United States,” stated Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State.
The sanctions effectively suspend the issuance of all immigrant and non-immigrant visas to Eritrean citizens at American embassies and consulates worldwide. Those already in possession of valid visas will not be immediately affected, but renewals will be impossible under the new directive.
Eritrean officials in Asmara have condemned the move as “imperialistic” and “a violation of sovereignty,” with Foreign Minister Osman Saleh describing it as “collective punishment against ordinary Eritreans.” The Eritrean government has long maintained that many individuals facing deportation fled their country under political asylum claims and should not be forcibly returned.
Immigration experts note that while visa restrictions against uncooperative countries have been imposed before, this marks the first time an entire nation’s citizens have faced a complete visa ban across all categories.
Dr. Amina Mohamed, Director of the African Migration Policy Institute in Nairobi, told KIIN360: “This represents an extreme escalation in immigration enforcement tactics. While the U.S. has legitimate concerns about countries refusing to accept deportees, cutting off all legal pathways affects students, businesspeople, tourists, and families – most of whom have nothing to do with deportation cases.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports that approximately 700 Eritrean nationals currently in the United States have final orders of removal but cannot be deported due to their government’s refusal to provide necessary documentation.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the implications of returning individuals to Eritrea, a country known for its mandatory and indefinite national service program that the United Nations has likened to slavery. Amnesty International has called the U.S. decision “disproportionate” and warned it could endanger lives.
The African Union has called for urgent dialogue between the two nations, with the AU Commission Chairperson appealing for “a measured approach that does not punish innocent citizens for governmental policies.”
For Eritrean diaspora communities, the announcement has created panic and uncertainty. “This separates families indefinitely. My brother was planning to join me for university next semester – now his future is in limbo,” lamented Haile Gebreselassie, an Eritrean-American resident in Minnesota.
Diplomatic observers suggest this severe measure may be intended to pressure other nations with similar deportation cooperation issues, sending a clear message about potential consequences of non-compliance with U.S. immigration procedures.
