A spokesman for the University of Duke said that the school “examined” a decision of the State Department who could see that Blue Devils star Khaman Maluach was expelled from the United States.
On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that the United States “would take measures to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and to restrict any other broadcast to prevent entry into the United States, with immediate effect”.
Rubio said the reason was because of “the failure of the South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its citizens repatriated in a timely manner”.
Maluach, who played his first year with Duke this season, is from South Sudan and concern has grown up that he will be forced to return to his country of origin.
Duke’s spokesman Frank TROMLE published a statement after Rubio’s announcement, saying that the University is “aware of the statement of the State Department concerning the holders of South Sudan visas”.
He continued: “We examine the situation and work quickly to understand all the implications for Duke students”.
Duke basketball star Khaman Maluach – from South Sudan – could be expelled from the United States
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that the government worked for the revocation of the visas of all South-Soudana passport holders
A spokesperson for the State Department then reiterated Rubio’s position in Yahoo! Sport, saying to the publication that the government’s decision “Impact all those who have an American visa in a South Sudanese passport and anyone with a South Sudanese passport which requires an American visa.
“We will provide more information and instructions to visa holders and candidates concerned as they are available,” added the spokesperson for the State Department.
Maluach was born in the southern city of Rumbek, but grew up in neighboring Uganda as a refugee.
It is not known if the center is in the United States with a South Sudanese visa or if it can have citizenship in another country.
In a longer declaration published on Saturday, Rubio urged South Sudan to “Stop enjoying the United States. The application of immigration laws in our country is extremely important for national security and public security in the United States.
“Each country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner where another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”
Maluach had a game less than the average against Houston, totaling only six points and zero rebounds
While Maluach’s first year season ended on Saturday while Duke collapsed against Houston in the Final Four, his future of play should always be in the United States.
The 18 -year -old was screened as a choice of lottery in the next NBA draft after a promising first year season in which he has an average of 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Against Houston, he produced only six points and zero rebounds in 21 minutes and was not made available to journalists after the match on Saturday evening.
Maluach went to Lycée in Senegal at the NBA Academy Africa before playing professionally for Cobra Sport – a team from her South Natal Sudan – at the age of 16.
Maluach has played for two other professional teams – as Customs in Senegal and Oilers in the city of Uganda – before being recruited in Duke. He chose the Blue Devils above the offers of the UCLA, Kentucky and Kansas
