Freetown, September 29, 2025 — Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba, has announced the creation of a high-level committee to identify citizens who overstayed their U.S. visas and arrange for their repatriation.
The committee—comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), and the Immigration Department—has begun a nationwide and international vetting exercise to track Sierra Leoneans who traveled with valid national documents but are now residing illegally in the United States.
“This tripartite committee is currently conducting a thorough vetting process, and once Sierra Leoneans who traveled with our national documents and are living abroad illegally are identified, we will facilitate their return home,” Minister Kabba told reporters in Freetown.
He emphasized that the government is working closely with U.S. authorities to ease visa restrictions currently imposed on Sierra Leone and urged those affected to cooperate.
“We appeal to our compatriots who are in the United States illegally to voluntarily return home. Doing so will help restore normal visa processing and create opportunities for others to travel legally,” he said.
Background to the Dispute
The move follows months of diplomatic friction between Freetown and Washington. In 2021, the United States placed Sierra Leone under Section 243(d) visa sanctions, citing the government’s alleged failure to accept deported nationals who had overstayed their visas or violated U.S. immigration laws. The restrictions, which initially targeted certain categories of Sierra Leonean government officials and their families, have since tightened, making it more difficult for ordinary citizens to obtain American visas.
U.S. immigration authorities have long complained about delays in issuing travel documents for deportees, while Sierra Leonean officials have argued that proper verification is needed to avoid wrongful repatriation. In recent years, the impasse has strained bilateral relations and hindered trade and educational exchanges.
By forming the new committee, President Julius Maada Bio’s administration hopes to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the dispute and protecting the integrity of Sierra Leone’s passport system. Officials say that once repatriations begin, the government will continue negotiations with Washington to have the visa sanctions lifted, potentially restoring normal travel opportunities for Sierra Leonean students, businesspeople, and families.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not disclosed a specific timeline for completing the identification process but assured the public that deportees will receive reintegration support upon their return.
