The new visa application system in Namibia means that visitors from more than thirty countries now need a visa before or upon arrival. Online messages since then have claimed that Namibia announced intentions to deport almost 500 Americans.
This is untrue, though; although the US is among the nations whose nationals now require visas to visit Namibia, no action regarding deporting 500 Americans was taken. The president dubbed the claim "fake news."
"Over 500 Americans set for deportation — no visa, no stay! An X post dated April 13, 2025 reads: "President of Namibia not smiling."
"She boldly declared: "Americans must also need visas to enter Namibia if Africans need visas to enter the U.S!"
Images of US President Donald Trump, Namibia's President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and people getting on a plane abound in the post.
Namibia recently tightened its visa entry criteria, which now apply more strictly to nationals from more than thirty countries including the United States.
The government has not said, however, that 500 US citizens would be deported.
Despite government official silence, a keyword search for "Namibia AND deportation" turned up innumerable blog entries, posts, and videos repeating the claim.
Regarding the claim, Margaret Kalo, home affairs spokesman for Namibia, said on April 15, 2025, that they were not aware of "of any such developments".