US President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to clamp down on refugee admissions – including those of Afrikaner “refugees” – for the following year.
According to reports, two known groups of white South Africans have arrived in the US under the resettlement programme. As part of an Executive Order, the minority group – who claim to suffer “racial persecution” in South Africa – have been offered a new life in America.
DONALD TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION TO LIMIT AFRIKANER ‘REFUGEES’
According to a New York Times report, the Trump administration plans to allow just 7500 refugees into the country as part of the 2026 fiscal year.
Earlier this year, the US President limited the resettlement programme to just white Afrikaner “refugees”, many of whom are farmers.
The new figure marks a steep drop from former US President Joe Biden’s administration that permitted 125 000 refugees into the country annually.
ELIGIBILITY
According to the US Embassy, applicants to the US Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP) must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be South African
- Be of Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa.
- Must be able to articulate an experience of persecution or fear of future persecution.
Applicants who met the criteria were encouraged to complete and submit a Statement of Interest form.
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The Embassy stated that communication with the applicants would be co-ordinated by USRAP partners, RSC Africa, operated by the Church World Service (CWS), and communication partner, Amerikaners.
Ultimately, the application will be reviewed and determined by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
AFRIKANER ‘REFUGEES’ AND ‘APARTHEID 2.0’
Speaking in a media conference in August, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola admonished the actions of the US government – under President Donald Trump – in accusing South Africa of promoting racial discrimination.
The minister also rubbished Trump’s refugee resettlement programe, opened to white South Africans, Afrikaners, and other racial minorities.
He said: “With our history… preferential treatment of a particular privileged group, the Afrikaners, who are not running away from any genocide in this country, is definitely Apartheid 2.0”.
“This is a clear emigration preference of a particular group in South Africa that happens to be Afrikaners.”
Lamola – who was part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s delegation to the White House in May – added: “We have maintained that as the South African government, we don’t agree that this is a refugee programme. Because there is no genocide in South Africa.
“In line with the UN Convention, the Afrikaners who are going to the US do not fit the definition of a refugee”.
