Duke star Khaman Maluach impacted by U.S. South Sudan visa revocation

• A Trump administration order revoking the visas of South Sudan nationals could affect Khaman Maluach. The 18-year-old center helped lead Duke to the Final Four.
• Should Maluach decide to leave Duke, he could be an NBA draft lottery pick.
• No deportation order has been issued by the Trump administration, but if those with visas leave the country, they will likely not be allowed to return.

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An order from the U.S. State Department revoking visas for South Sudanese nationals could affect the future of Duke men’s basketball player Khaman Maluach. The 7’2” freshman from South Sudan helped Duke University reach the Final Four.

When and why were visas revoked for South Sudan?

The Blue Devils suffered a tough 70-67 loss to Houston in the national semifinals on Saturday, April 5. Now, Maluach and his family have political issues to navigate.

On April 5, the same day as the semifinal game, Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement that said the following: “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States. Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”

“As South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle, effective immediately, the United States Department of State is taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders. We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation.”

How did Maluach come to the U.S.?

Maluach fled war-torn South Sudan with his family at a young age and moved to Uganda. He lived there until scouts noticed him at 14 and recommended him for the year-round NBA academy in Senegal. From there, he honed his skills and eventually helped his home country of South Sudan qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

The Trump Administration has not issued a general deportation order for Sudanese citizens currently in the U.S., so Maluach and others can remain in the country for now. If they leave, however, they would likely not be allowed back into the country.

What was the response from Duke University?

Duke spokesman Frank Tramble said in a statement, “Duke University is aware of the announcement from the Department of State regarding visa holders from South Sudan. We are looking into the situation and working expeditiously to understand any implications for Duke students.”

If things remain as they are, the 18-year-old’s next stop could be the NBA. Should he decide to leave Duke, Maluach will likely be a lottery pick in the June draft. Playing in Toronto or in another overseas event like the recent Paris Games will be an issue unless the Trump administration provides some sort of waiver regarding his travel.

On Sunday, April 6, a state department spokesperson said that Rubio’s decision would “impact all those who have a U.S. visa in a South Sudanese passport and anyone with a South Sudanese passport who is applying for a U.S. visa,” adding that further information and instructions will be provided to affected visa holders and applicants as it is available.