The Trump administration has largely halted traditional refugee admissions while prioritizing white South Africans, or Afrikaners, for resettlement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers this week that Afrikaners would be more likely to “assimilate” in the United States, drawing sharp questions from Democrats about stranded Afghan partners and the administration’s broader approach to refugee policy.
The Trump administration has sharply narrowed U.S. refugee admissions since returning to office, and it has steered the program toward white South Africans known as Afrikaners. In a congressional hearing this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended that approach, telling lawmakers that Afrikaners would be more likely to “assimilate” successfully in the United States, according to an NPR report. The administration has also moved to expand the number of Afrikaners eligible for admission. A Federal Register notice and related consultations with Congress raised the fiscal-year ceiling from 7,500 to 17,500 slots, an increase of 10,000 that remains reserved for white South Africans, the Associated Press reported. Democrats used the hearing to challenge the administration’s emphasis on Afrikaners while other groups remain stuck in processing backlogs, including Afghans who worked with U.S. forces and are still awaiting resettlement in third countries such as Qatar, NPR reported. The NPR report also described lawmakers questioning Rubio about the administration’s stance on Afghan resettlement and the distinction between security vetting and the administration’s arguments about assimilation. The administration has argued that Afrikaners face persecution in South Africa, a claim that South Africa’s government has denied, AP reported.
