U.S. Refugee Policy Changes and White South Africans — A Simple Guide

The Trump administration plans to cut refugee admissions this year. The plan would lower the total number of refugees the United States accepts. Many of the available slots would go to white South Africans. These people are sometimes called Afrikaners and they are a white minority in South Africa.

A small group of white South Africans arrived in the United States on May 12, 2025. The South African government says that claims of discrimination are unfounded. Refugee groups say that other people from war-torn countries have been blocked. Officials have discussed a new cap of 40,000 refugees. Many people worry this will be a record low.