By Francis H. Murray
The United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has ordered the reduction of visa sanctions on Sierra Leone in recognition of the government’s augmented assistance in facilitating the timely return of its nationals who are subject to final orders of removal from the country.
The country’s newly appointed Ambassador to Sierra Leone David Reimer in a press release issued on Tuesday 30th March 2021 noted that he was pleased to announce the reduction in sanctions by way of complementing the efforts of the government to repatriate it nationals back to the country.
“Effective March 31, the U.S. Embassy in Freetown will resume issuing all immigrant and most nonimmigrant visas to qualified Sierra Leoneans. Under Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), visa restrictions will continue to apply to B1, B2, and B1/B2 nonimmigrant visas for Sierra Leonean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) officials and immigration officials until the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that 243(d) visa restrictions are no longer merited and so informs the Secretary of State,’’ the release noted.
It went on to further note that: “the abiding friendship between our nations is built on ties of family, culture, and mutual respect, as well as political and economic exchange. We recognize and appreciate the Government of Sierra Leone’s improvements on removal issues and trust that the government will continue to work with us in establishing a mutually-agreeable process for accepting Sierra Leonean nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States.”
The US Embassy in Freetown in September 2020 announced that it was discontinuing the issuing of immigrant and non-immigrant visas to Sierra Leonean Citizens with exceptions to those covered by what the Embassy referred to as “obligations or commitments under international agreements such as the UN Headquarters Agreement.”
The sanctions were issued due to a row over the delayed deportation of Sierra Leonean citizens from the US marking an extension of earlier existing sanctions since 2007 under the Ernest Bai Koroma administration which was accused at the time of refusing to accept Sierra Leonean nationals deported by the US.
It initially targeted officials from the immigration department and foreign Affairs ministry at the time but was later extended to US diversity lottery winners.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (31/03/21)
