Afrikaner South Africans will be the only “refugees” permitted to enter and live in the US, a representative from the White House stated in a media briefing this week.
This comes as US President Donald Trump has prioritised granting 7500 predominantly white South Africans a spot on the resettlement programme for the next fiscal year.
In recent weeks, Trump has snubbed South Africa from the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami on the basis of allegations that the country is “killing” white people and “stealing” their land.
ONLY AFRIKANERS ALLOWED IN REFUGEE PROGRAMME
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavit confirmed that white Afrikaner South Africans were the only “refugees” permitted in the country.
She said: “Refugee admissions into the country right now are essentially at zero, with the exception of Afrikaners fleeing persecution in South Africa.”
She continued: “The state department has also heightened its security and vetting of all visas and has also revoked visas for those who do not align with our country’s national interest”.
Shortly after taking office, the Trump administration halted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP). The president later signed an executive order permitting South African minorities, particularly white Afrikaners, to join the refugee resettlement programme.
He has also issued a travel ban to a growing list of countries, all of which are third-world and developing countries.
ONE WAY TICKET OUT OF SA?
Are Afrikaner South Africans who are granted refugee status in the US permitted to come back home?
Returning to South Africa– considered the country of “persecution” – even if just to visit relatives, could come at a cost.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there are stringent travel restrictions in place for refugees who are successful in the resettlement programme.
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Those who visit SA without prior permission shall be presumed to have abandoned their asylum unless they can establish compelling reasons for their return to SA. They will have to explain the reason for their return in the process of obtaining permission.
Returning to one’s country of claimed persecution could result in termination of asylum if there are fundamental changes in circumstances back home. Termination could also occur due to fraud in the asylum application. This happens if an applicant is not eligible for refugee status.
Returning to SA for business or pleasure can be considered evidence that the refugee’s alleged fear of persecution is not genuine.
