Why is the Trump administration re-admitting white South African refugees to the US? Here’s what we know | Today’s news
The Trump administration plans to admit up to 17,500 refugees to the U.S. in fiscal year 2027, with the vast majority expected to be Africans from South Africa, CBS News reported.
The State Department notified Congress of the proposed refugee allocation in a notice sent Tuesday. It is a departure from the broader US refugee resettlement program, which has been largely closed under President Donald Trump to people fleeing persecution and conflict in other parts of the world.
Why is the US targeting South Africans?
The Trump administration says Afrikaners, a predominantly white ethnic minority descended largely from European settlers, face racial discrimination and persecution in post-apartheid South Africa.
In its notification to Congress, the State Department said Afrikaners face confiscation of agricultural property without compensation, government policies affecting employment, education and business, as well as rhetoric that it says contributes to disproportionate violence against racial minorities.
The administration also cited what Trump described as the “genocide” of white South Africans. Trump raised the issue last year during a tense meeting in the Oval Office with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa when he showed him a video of the killing of farmers.
South African authorities have strongly rejected claims that Africans are facing genocide or systematic persecution. CBS News also reported that the “60 Minutes” report featured Africans who rejected claims of genocide and said the farm killings were part of a broader crime problem affecting people of different races.
Read also | White Africans reject Trump’s refugee offer, vow to stay in South Africa
How did the Africans get the exemption?
The Trump administration has effectively restricted the admission of refugees from most parts of the world while creating an exemption for Africans.
CNN reported that the administration earlier this year raised the refugee limit for South Africans to 17,500 from the 7,500 limit for all refugees, using an emergency resolution submitted to Congress.
The State Department’s latest announcement says 17,500 refugee slots for fiscal year 2027 will go “primarily” to Africans. A new fiscal year begins in October.
The administration has already resettled thousands of Africans to the US over the past year and a half, while refugee advocates have argued that favoring the group has come at the expense of other vulnerable populations around the world.
Read also | South Africa questions 3 persons of interest in female murders
What does the US say about costs?
The planned resettlement program is expected to cost the U.S. government about $500 million, according to a State Department announcement cited by CBS News.
The announcement also states that the administration expects Africans to fully assimilate into the US while preserving taxpayer resources for US citizens.
He added that the US does not expect other countries to resettle Africans.
What did politics trigger?
The decision to prioritize Africans changed the traditional focus of the US refugee program, which has historically provided resettlement opportunities for people fleeing war, persecution and other dangers around the world.
Refugee advocates criticized the administration’s focus on a single group, arguing that vulnerable people elsewhere were effectively excluded.
The policy also created diplomatic tensions with South Africa. Last week, the US imposed sanctions on South African officials, accusing them of discriminating against Africans.
CNN reported that the resettlement program has also led to diplomatic disputes, the opening of a processing site in South Africa and unusual requests from applicants. More than a dozen people familiar with the program told CNN it generated a high rejection rate, in part because some applicants had criminal records.
