Trump doubles down on white South African refugee program despite outcry

WorldPolitics
8 Jun 2026 • 9:28 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Trump doubles down on white South African refugee program despite outcry

  • The U.S. has accepted nearly 6,000 refugees from South Africa this year, with almost all being white South Africans.
  • A presidential memo issued by Donald Trump last September cut the annual refugee limit to 7,500 and prioritized "Afrikaners from South Africa" due to alleged "unjust discrimination."
  • Donald Trump and allies, including Elon Musk, have claimed white South Africans face racial persecution and "genocide," a narrative disputed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
  • South African officials have refuted these claims, stating there is no factual basis for the U.S. action and calling it "politically motivated."
  • Donald Trump is reportedly planning to increase the refugee admissions ceiling by 10,000 this year to allow more white South Africans into the country.

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