By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The United States has defended its decision to extend visa sanction against Sierra Leoneans, saying that despite efforts by the Freetown government to comply with its deportation orders, delays in processing documents for those identified for deportation has stifled the process.
The US Embassy in Freetown made the point in a factsheet sent to Politico following revelations over the weekend about the extension of the visa ban to immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants.
This means that the sanction will not only affect foreign ministry and immigration officials, but other Sierra Leoneans wishing to travel to the US as well. And they include US diversity visa lottery winners who usually apply for an immigrant visa.
What makes it even more precarious for DV winners is that the automated operating system for it closes down after 30 September. So until the sanctions are lifted in the coming days - the possibility of which is slim - 2020 DV winners in Sierra Leone stand to forfeit.
The US embassy statement further reads: “As of September 11, 2020, the United States has discontinued issuing almost all immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for Sierra Leone citizens and nationals applying at Embassy Freetown, other than those covered by limited exceptions and those consistent with U.S. obligations or commitments under international agreements, such as the UN Headquarters Agreement”.
The exemptions were not clearly defined, but Politico understands that despite the ban, government officials can travel to and from the US to attend UN meetings.
The US visa sanction on Sierra Leone was initially imposed back in 2017, under the Earnest Bai Koroma administration, which was accused of refusing to accept Sierra Leonean nationals deported by the US. The sanction initially affected low level government officials working with the Foreign Ministry and Immigration Department.
The US Embassy in Freetown said despite efforts by the government, there have been delays to complete the documentation process and hasten the repatriation.
“We recognize the government of Sierra Leone’s recent efforts to issue travel documents and accept some nationals who were subject to a final order of removal; however, the Government of Sierra Leone’s continued lack of a consistent, repeatable removal process has resulted in continued delays in accepting the return of its citizens,” the statement noted.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry in Sierra Leone has not responded to the recent action of the US. Officials didn’t respond to our request for comment either.
But Politico understands that the tussle has been ongoing for a very long time, with the government saying some of those who are to be repatriated are not Sierra Leoneans, even though they were caught with Sierra Leonean documents.
We also learnt that a press conference is scheduled by the ministry for today, September 22, on the issue.
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