U.S. Visa Ban: President Bio Reportedly Hires Law Firm to Check His American Immigration Status

The government of Sierra Leone, represented by Jerry Torres, National Security Adviser to President Julius Maada Bio, has reportedly engaged the services of Ifrah Law, a U.S.-based law firm, to conduct an inquiry into the immigration status of President Bio with U.S. authorities.

According to Journalist Amadu Lamarana Bah, Ifrah Law has formally notified the U.S. Department of Justice about their mission to secure President Bio’s Alien File, comprehensively review its contents, examine any relevant litigation from the Immigration Court, and assess the potential for relief.

The decision to probe President Bio’s immigration status reflects a strategic move by the Sierra Leonean government to ensure transparency and address any pertinent legal considerations.

Jerry Torres, a seasoned U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, assumed his role in August 2023, primarily tasked with advising and assisting President Bio and his administration in strengthening political ties with the United States.

The relationship between the Sierra Leone government and the United States went sour following a disputed 2023 Presidential election. The US State Department has raised concerns about “anomalies” in Sierra Leone’s June 24 election where President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected.

The department, in its statement from July 24, voiced its unease over accounts of threats, including those of a lethal nature, directed at local and international observers, civil society groups, and election commission members.

Following the development, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, announced the implementation of a stringent visa restriction policy targeting individuals involved in undermining the democratic process in Sierra Leone.

According to Blinken, the United States will actively pursue visa restrictions for those deemed responsible for acts that undermine democracy in Sierra Leone. Such acts include manipulating or rigging the electoral process, employing intimidation tactics to deter voters, election observers, or civil society entities through threats or physical violence, as well as violating human rights principles associated with the democratic process in Sierra Leone.

Although details of the individuals targeted by the US visa sanction weren’t immediately made public in the statement issued by the State Department, it was speculated that President Bio and other government officials who participated in electoral malpractice in the 2023 general elections might have been included.

Since the announcement of the visa restriction policy, there has been widespread curiosity among Sierra Leoneans about the identities of these individuals.

The involvement of Ifrah Law in this investigation underscores the government’s commitment to thorough and impartial scrutiny. As the story unfolds, we will keep you updated on the developments surrounding this intriguing inquiry into President Bio’s immigration status.