White South Africans Granted Refugee Status Arrive in U.S. Under Controversial Policy

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

A group of white South African nationals arrived in the United States this week under a new immigration directive initiated during Donald Trump’s presidency, marking a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy. The arrival at Dulles International Airport included 49 individuals, primarily Afrikaners, who were granted entry under claims of racial discrimination and social exclusion in post-apartheid South Africa.

This immigration policy, introduced as part of an executive order, classifies white South Africans as eligible for refugee resettlement based on allegations of systemic bias and economic marginalization. U.S. officials defended the move by citing humanitarian concerns, stating the group faces a deteriorating quality of life due to land reform debates, violent crime, and alleged state neglect.

However, the South African government has condemned the initiative. Officials in Pretoria labeled the claims as exaggerated and politically driven, asserting that all South Africans enjoy equal protection under the country’s constitution. In a formal diplomatic note, South Africa criticized Washington’s actions as misleading and counterproductive to bilateral cooperation.

Human rights organizations have also raised alarms over the policy’s implications, warning that it risks politicizing the refugee system and undermining the principle of equal treatment for all asylum seekers, regardless of race or nationality. Critics argue that this move prioritizes ideology over established international standards and could encourage discriminatory practices in future immigration decisions.

Despite the growing controversy, U.S. immigration authorities confirmed that additional white South African applicants are being processed, with more expected to arrive in the coming months. The program has triggered an increase in asylum applications at U.S. consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where special processing units have been established.