The Trump administration is preparing to welcome more than two dozen white South Africans as refugees to the United States next week, despite having suspended most refugee resettlement programmes globally.
The first group of Afrikaner families is expected to arrive Monday at Dulles International Airport, where they will be greeted by senior U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
The resettlement comes as the administration has largely halted refugee admissions from conflict zones like Afghanistan and much of sub-Saharan Africa, citing security concerns.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February prioritising white South Africans, claiming they face racial persecution under the country’s Black-led government.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described the arrivals as the start of a “much larger-scale relocation effort,” arguing that white South Africans meet the “textbook definition” of refugees due to alleged racial discrimination.
The State Department has been conducting interviews in Pretoria, prioritising Afrikaner applicants who claim to be victims of land expropriation policies and violence.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from refugee advocates, who accuse the administration of hypocrisy. While Afghan allies who assisted U.S. forces remain stranded under Taliban rule, and other refugee groups face years-long vetting processes, the Trump administration has fast-tracked white South Africans, a group that still holds disproportionate wealth and privilege in post-apartheid South Africa.
The South African government has vehemently denied allegations of systemic persecution, calling the U.S. stance “politically motivated.” President Cyril Ramaphosa told Trump in a recent call that the claims were “completely false,” emphasising that no South Africans should be classified as refugees.
The foreign ministry noted that while it respects individuals’ right to emigrate, it questions the refugee designation and has sought assurances about the vetting process for those leaving.
The resettlement also underscores deteriorating U.S.-South Africa relations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has boycotted G20 meetings hosted by South Africa, expelled its ambassador, and cut diplomatic engagement, a rift that may deepen as the U.S. prepares to welcome the refugee families.
Supporters of the policy, including billionaire Elon Musk – a vocal critic of South Africa’s government – argue that white farmers face targeted violence. But critics, including refugee organisations, see the move as selective compassion.
“Afghans risked their lives for us. That should matter,” said Shawn VanDiver of #AfghanEvac, contrasting the administration’s treatment of Afghan allies with its swift action for white South Africans.
