The most recent group of refugees to enter the United States since Donald Trump took office followed an unusual path. Upon his return to the presidency, Trump immediately halted all refugee admissions to the U.S., disrupting resettlement plans for thousands fleeing persecution and violence. Just eighteen days later, he made an exception for white South Africans claiming to be victims of unfair racial discrimination.
On a recent Monday, a chartered plane carrying approximately 50 Afrikaners arrived in the U.S., signaling a new phase in the country’s refugee program that diverges significantly from its past practices. Trump’s directive specifically targeted Afrikaners, who are descendants of Dutch colonial settlers that came to South Africa in the 1600s and governed the nation from 1948 to 1994 under the apartheid regime.
Upon landing at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., the South African refugees were greeted by Trump administration officials as they stood before news cameras holding American flags. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau extended a warm welcome, acknowledging the challenges they had faced and expressing optimism about their future in the U.S. He likened them to “quality seeds” that would thrive in their new environment.
Trump’s decision to single out Afrikaners was partly driven by concerns over a 2024 South African law addressing land ownership disparities among white South Africans. The President cited violence against white farmers in South Africa as a key factor in accepting this group of refugees.
Despite Trump’s assertions, South African officials have refuted claims of widespread persecution against white farmers, stating that official crime data does not support such allegations. They emphasized that existing mechanisms within South Africa address issues of discrimination and that the situation does not meet the criteria for refugee status under international law.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described the arrivals from South Africa as part of a broader relocation initiative, emphasizing the challenges faced by Afrikaners in their homeland as justification for their acceptance as refugees. The initiative also garnered support from prominent figures like Elon Musk, who has advocated for increased protection of white South Africans.
In contrast to standard procedures, the refugees from South Africa did not undergo vetting by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a typical step in the refugee resettlement process. This departure from protocol has raised questions about the transparency and thoroughness of the vetting process for these particular arrivals.
The church rejected a demand from the Trump administration to assist in resettling Afrikaners in the U.S. For the past four decades, the Protestant church has collaborated with the federal government through Episcopal Migration Ministries to help newly arrived refugees secure employment and housing in the U.S. Expressing disappointment in the preferential treatment given to one group of refugees over others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Rev. Sean W. Rowe, decided to cease all cooperation with the government on refugee resettlement. Rowe highlighted the shutdown of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program since January and expressed regret that many refugees who had supported the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan were now facing danger in their home countries. Emphasizing the importance of caring for the poor and vulnerable, Rowe stressed the need to follow Jesus’ command in this regard.
The Trump administration is expected to see a significant decrease in new refugee admissions this year. In contrast, the Biden Administration admitted 100,034 individuals through its refugee program in the 2024 fiscal year, a notable increase from 60,014 in 2023 and 25,465 in 2022. Africa accounted for the largest group of refugees during the 2024 fiscal year, with 34,017 individuals, followed by 7,540 from Asia, 3,180 from Europe and Central Asia, 5,106 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 10,003 from the Near East and South Asia, according to U.S. Refugee Admissions Program data.
Bill Frelick, the director of the refugee and migrants rights division at Human Rights Watch, criticized the Trump administration’s decision to restrict refugee admissions to a select few white South Africans, undermining the U.S.’ longstanding efforts to welcome those in need. He argued that this approach sends a message that the U.S. only favors privileged groups, effectively closing the door to others in need. Frelick pointed out that the U.N. has a system for identifying refugees most in need of resettlement, and by disregarding this system, the Trump Administration sets a negative example for other nations.
For further inquiries, please contact Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
