Washington/Johannesburg: The U.S. has welcomed its first group of white South African refugees under a controversial move by the Trump administration, which claims they face racial discrimination. The arrival of 59 Afrikaners—descendants of predominantly Dutch settlers—on Monday was met with criticism from Democratic leaders and sparked confusion within South Africa.
President Donald Trump, who has otherwise restricted refugee admissions from predominantly non-white countries, previously announced in February that the U.S. would accept white South Africans, stating they are victims of persecution.
Asked why these refugees were being prioritized over people fleeing famine and conflict elsewhere in Africa, Trump said without providing evidence, “It’s a genocide that’s taking place,” doubling down on claims often circulated by right-wing groups. He denied the decision was racially motivated, stating, “Their race makes no difference to me.”
The South African government continues to refute these allegations, insisting there is no evidence of systematic persecution of white citizens. Claims of “white genocide”—echoed by South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk—have not been substantiated by independent investigations.
The Episcopal Church, a longstanding partner in refugee resettlement programs, announced it would no longer cooperate with the federal government after being asked to assist with the resettlement of the Afrikaners. “It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” wrote Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe in a public letter.
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the most senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the decision as “baffling.” In a statement, she said, “The decision by this administration to put one group at the front of the line is clearly politically motivated and an effort to rewrite history.”
At Dulles International Airport, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau received the refugees and shared a personal anecdote, comparing their journey to that of his father—a Jewish refugee from Austria who fled Europe in the 1930s. While Landau did not repeat Trump’s claims of killings, he said many of the Afrikaners were long-time farmers now facing land expropriation threats and rising violence.
Trump’s February directive cited South Africa’s proposed land expropriation legislation, which aims to make land redistribution more feasible. Though no land has been seized under the law, the proposal has sparked concern among segments of the white farming population.
Charl Kleinhaus, 46, was among those who arrived in the U.S. and is set to resettle in Buffalo, New York, alongside his children and grandson. He claimed his life had been threatened and his land targeted. “We never expected this land expropriation thing to go so far,” he told Reuters. His account could not be independently verified.
Some of the new arrivals are expected to settle in traditionally refugee-friendly states like Minnesota, while others plan to relocate to more conservative areas such as Idaho and Alabama, according to sources.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that additional Afrikaner refugees are expected to be admitted in the coming months.
Also Read | Tariff War on Hold: U.S. and China Reach Tentative Trade Breakthrough
Since returning to office in January, Trump has suspended all U.S. financial aid to South Africa, citing dissatisfaction with its domestic land policy and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Speaking from a conference in Ivory Coast, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa suggested the Afrikaners left due to opposition to policies designed to rectify racial disparities dating back to the apartheid era. “We think that the American government has got the wrong end of the stick here, but we’ll continue talking to them,” he said.
Also Read: Shipping Industry Reacts to US-China Tariff Reduction, Eyes Booking Surge
Trump stated that members of South Africa’s leadership are scheduled to meet with him next week. He warned he would skip the G20 meeting in South Africa this November unless “the situation is taken care of.”
Despite the end of apartheid more than three decades ago, South Africa remains deeply unequal. According to the Review of Political Economy, the white minority still owns about 75% of private land and holds nearly 20 times the wealth of the Black majority. While fewer than 10% of white South Africans are unemployed, the rate exceeds 33% among Black South Africans.
