The Trump administration is considering more than doubling the annual refugee limit to bring additional white South Africans into the United States, according to three sources familiar with internal discussions. This move would expand a program that has already been refocused almost exclusively on Afrikaners, a group of European descent.
Background of the Refugee Program
President Donald Trump, a Republican, paused refugee admissions from all countries upon taking office in January 2025. Weeks later, he issued an executive order prioritizing the resettlement of Afrikaners, claiming they face race-based persecution in majority-Black South Africa. The South African government has strongly denied these allegations.
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, established in 1980 to aid those fleeing conflicts in Vietnam and Cambodia, has traditionally provided safe haven to persecuted individuals worldwide. Under Trump, the program has been used predominantly to bring white South Africans into the country, marking a significant shift in humanitarian protection norms.
Proposed Cap Increase
In recent weeks, U.S. officials have discussed raising the current refugee cap of 7,500 by an additional 10,000 slots to accommodate more Afrikaners, said sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House directed inquiries to the State Department, which neither confirmed nor denied the discussions. A State Department spokesperson stated, "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."
Demographics and Admissions Data
During apartheid, which ended in 1994, South Africa enforced racial segregation. Blacks now constitute 81% of the population, while Afrikaners and other whites make up 7%, according to 2022 census data. Through the first six months of fiscal year 2026, the U.S. admitted approximately 4,500 South Africans as refugees, on track to exceed the current cap. The only other refugees admitted this fiscal year were three Afghans, per State Department figures.
The refugee ceiling for fiscal year 2026, which began October 1, 2025, was set at a record low of 7,500 by Trump, down from 125,000 under former President Joe Biden. The administration is also considering including religious minorities from Iran and former Soviet Union countries under the "Lautenberg" program, which facilitates Jewish refugee resettlement.
Returning Refugees
Despite Trump's portrayal of South Africa as dangerous for whites, some refugees have returned home. An internal U.S. government email reviewed by Reuters documented at least four cases. One South African who arrived in Minneapolis in late January left within a month after plans for his family to join him fell through. Two others in Twin Falls, Idaho, returned after a week due to a parent's illness. A 66-year-old woman resettled in Moline, Illinois, returned weeks later, citing insufficient planning and family concerns.
U.S. government contracting documents reported by Reuters in February indicated plans to process 4,500 white South Africans per month, including installing trailers on embassy grounds in Pretoria for interviews.
