U.S. Plans Refugee Resettlement for Afrikaners Amid Controversy

The Trump administration is set to welcome up to 17,500 White Afrikaners from South Africa as refugees in the next year. This decision was outlined in a notice to Congress, accessed by CBS News.

The U.S. State Department informed Congress of plans to allocate these refugee spots for fiscal year 2027, commencing in October. Priority will be given to Afrikaners, whom President Trump claims face oppression for being White.

Despite restricting the broader U.S. refugee program, this government has exempted Afrikaners. Thousands have been resettled under this policy over the last 18 months.

Officials present Afrikaners as victims of racial oppression in post-apartheid South Africa. Contrary to these claims, the South African government denies any persecution against this ethnic minority, comprised mainly of Dutch descendants.

The State Department notice to Congress stated, “Afrikaners face the seizure of agricultural property without compensation; government policies designed to dismantle equal opportunity in employment, education, and business; and hateful rhetoric fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored minorities.”

A recent event saw Afrikaners arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport for resettlement, marking another step in this initiative.

Last week, the U.S. imposed sanctions on South African officials accused of discriminating against Afrikaners. This resettlement effort is expected to cost the U.S. government $500 million.

The notice assures that Afrikaners will assimilate into American society without financially burdening U.S. citizens. Trump has also voiced concerns of “genocide” against Afrikaners, confronting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with such claims.

These claims have been challenged. A “60 Minutes” report featured Afrikaners rejecting the notion of genocide, attributing farm murders to broader crime issues affecting all races in South Africa.