The U.S. State Department warned on Thursday of "severe consequences" if South Africa fails to hold accountable those responsible of what it described as the detention of U.S. officials and the public release of their passport information during an immigration enforcement operation in Johannesburg.
In a sharply worded statement, the department said it "condemns in the strongest terms" the South African government's actions, calling the public disclosure of U.S. officials' passport details "an unacceptable form of harassment" that "puts the official in harm's way."
