All but three of the 4,499 refugees let into the United States this fiscal year so far have come from South Africa. This squares with the president’s pledge to prioritize Afrikaners – white South Africans – while capping refugee entries at a record low.
Halfway through fiscal year 2026, the latest State Department data published this week shows that refugee arrivals have already surpassed half of the 7,500 admissions cap.
During the last full year of the Biden administration, by contrast, over 100,000 refugees arrived (a three-decade high). The sharp reversal now – and the singling out of one ethnic group to protect – marks a deep departure from the program built with bipartisan support in 1980.
Why We Wrote This
Virtually all of the refugees let into the U.S. in the first six months of the fiscal year have come from South Africa. The State Department data released this week appears to support President Trump’s pledge to prioritize Afrikaners – white South Africans.
President Donald Trump took an ax to his predecessor’s immigration policies, including expansive refugee resettlement. On his first day back in office, Mr. Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, citing security and assimilation concerns.
Following that news, refugee advocates criticized the withdrawal of American humanitarian aid as major conflicts abroad continued to displace millions. The Episcopal Church, a longtime refugee services provider, announced it would end those services with the government and decline resettling white South Africans over others. The church cited its “steadfast commitment to racial justice.”
Later last year, Mr. Trump affirmed that he would prioritize Afrikaner refugees “and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination.” The president appeared to stake a claim in a debate over the persecution versus privilege of white South African farmers. Farm attacks are real in South Africa, but have been exaggerated.
While more than 80% of South Africa’s population is Black, the Trump administration singled out white Afrikaners. The State Department data does not specify race.
Refugees, who flee identity-based persecution, are accepted for protection in the U.S. before they’re admitted. Before this administration, refugees had often waited years in camps before they were approved to arrive.
The largest share of South African refugees – over 500 – have arrived in Texas, followed by Florida and California. The exception to South African arrivals came in November, when three refugees from Afghanistan landed in Colorado.
The Trump administration’s separate attempt to arrest refugees already here – ahead of their obtaining green cards – has been blocked by courts.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the prospect of admitting other nationalities as refugees.