DUKE University has responded to concerns that one of their own, star Khaman Maluach, could be deported from the United States under President Donald Trump’s new policy.
The March Madness star Maluach is a 7-foot-2 freshman center from South Sudan.
ReutersDuke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach dunks the ball against Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers during the 2025 NCAA Tournament[/caption] GettyThe 18-year-old freshman center Maluach could be deported due to President Donald Trump’s new policy[/caption]On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Ruvo shared on X that the US would be “taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and to restrict any further issuance to prevent entry into the United States, effective immediately.
Maluach would be affected by the State Department’s restriction, which Rubio claims is “due to the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner.”
The ruling on South Sudanese visa holders was put into place just before Maluach and the Blue Devils lost their Final Four game against Houston over the weekend.
Duke spokesman Frank Tramble released a statement concerning Rubio’s announcement, saying that the school is “aware of the announcement from the Department of State regarding visa holders from South Sudan.”
The statement continued, “We are looking into the situation and working expeditiously to understand any implications for Duke students.”
A State Department spokesperson told USA Today that the government’s decision would “impact all those who have a US visa in a South Sudanese passport and anyone with a South Sudanese passport who is applying for a US visa.”
“We will provide information and instructions to affected visa holders and applicants as it is available,” the representative added.
Maluach declined to speak with reporters after his team’s brutal loss on Saturday.
It’s not known if the 18-year-old is currently in the United States on a South Sudanese visa or if he has citizenship in another country.
Rubio released a longer statement on Saturday, telling South Sudan to “stop taking advantage of the United States.
“Enforcing our nation’s immigrant 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.”
Maluach’s future is still expected to be in the United States after Duke’s collapse versus Houston in the Final Four.
He has been projected as a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft thanks to his freshman season, with averages of 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
During the loss to the Cougars, Maluach posted six points and zero rebounds in 21 minutes of play.
GettyMaluach reacts with a teammate after Duke’s brutal 70-67 loss to Houston in the Final Four over the weekend[/caption]He went to high school in Senegal at the NBA Academy Africa.
Maluach then played professionally for Cobra Sport, which is a team in his native South Sudan, when he was 16-years-old.
He went to play for two more professional teams – AS Douanes of Senegal and City Oilers of Uganda – before getting recruited to play for Duje.
He chose the Blue Devils after receiving offers from UCLA, Kansas, and Kentucky.
The NBA Draft takes place on June 25, and he and fellow teammate Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick, are expected to declare to enter the professional ranks.
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