Nigeria, April 6 -- The United States is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese nationals and halting the entry of new arrivals from the African country.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced on Saturday that the move is in response to South Sudan's refusal to take back its citizens expelled from the US.

Since President Trump's return to the White House, the US government has embarked on controversial immigration, including the deportation of individuals considered to be in the country unlawfully.

Many countries and rights groups have faulted the deportation moves, including of persons who have no criminal record or are publicly critical of US policies.

The US had also warned that nations refusing to promptly accept the...