The United States has confirmed a refugee admissions cap of 7,500 for the year, the lowest in its history, with a significant portion reserved for white South African Afrikaners. This marks a sharp departure from the previous administration's limit of 125,000. The policy prioritizes certain groups amid a broader overhaul of the resettlement program.
A Washington Post report reveals that President Donald Trump's administration plans to drastically reduce the US refugee resettlement program, setting an annual cap at 7,500 admissions—the lowest in history. This replaces the Biden administration's cap of 125,000, which included refugees from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.
Under the new plan, up to 7,000 of these slots would be allocated to white South African Afrikaners, focusing on their relocation to the United States. The State Department aims to process 2,000 Afrikaners by the end of October and an additional 4,000 by the end of November. However, progress has been slower than expected, partly because some Afrikaners have changed their minds about relocating.
This initiative follows a New York Times article highlighting the administration's consideration of a radical overhaul, slashing the program while giving preference to English speakers, white South Africans, and Europeans who oppose migration. Soon after taking office, President Trump issued executive orders suspending all refugee admissions and prioritizing Afrikaners, sidelining broader human rights concerns.
The policy has drawn attention to accommodations specifically for white Afrikaners amid the overall reduction in refugee intake.