Friday, April 24, 2026 - The administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a proposal to more than double the current refugee ceiling to accommodate a larger number of white South Africans.
According to sources familiar with internal discussions,
U.S. officials have deliberated increasing the existing 7,500-person cap by an
additional 10,000 slots specifically for Afrikaners.
Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has
prioritized the resettlement of European-descended South Africans through an
executive order, citing claims of race-based persecution.
While the South African government denies these allegations,
the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been used almost exclusively for this
group over the past fiscal year.
State Department data indicates that approximately 4,500
South Africans were admitted as refugees in the first six months of the current
fiscal year, while only three refugees of other nationalities, all Afghan, were
processed during the same period.
The White House has referred inquiries to the State
Department, which declined to confirm the specific numbers. "If the
president decides to raise the FY 2026 refugee admissions cap, he will do so at
the appropriate time, and any numbers discussed at this point are only
speculation," a spokesperson stated.
Despite the administration's focus on this program, internal
government records reviewed by Reuters show that some arrivals have already
chosen to return to South Africa.
At least four refugees resettled in states such as Idaho,
Illinois, and Minnesota departed the U.S. shortly after arrival, citing family
obligations or a lack of preparation for the resettlement process.
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