US immigration policy: USA prioritizes white South Africans as refugees

The United States government plans to admit up to 17,500 refugees in the fiscal year 2027, with the majority being white South Africans. This decision stems from claims of discrimination faced by South Africans in their home country, as outlined in a statement from the US Department of State to Congress, obtained by CNN and CBS News.

The US government expects these refugees to fully integrate into American society while conserving the resources allocated for them. The cost of resettlement is estimated to be around $500 million, according to further information.

The fiscal year 2027 for the US government begins on October 1, 2026. Relations between Pretoria and Washington have been strained since the start of US President Donald Trump's administration. Trump accused the South African government of discriminating against white minorities, particularly Afrikaners, or descendants of Dutch settlers, and has described this situation as "genocide" in related statements.

Therefore, those being admitted are expected to be "mainly Afrikaners from South Africa," according to US media sources reporting on the US Department of State's justification.

Experts and the South African government strongly disagree with Trump's portrayal of the situation. Afrikaners historically ruled South Africa under the racist apartheid regime until the early 1990s, which discriminated against the black population majority. Under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, the number of refugees admitted annually was significantly higher, with a maximum of 125,000 people allowed to enter the country due to their origin, religion, or political beliefs.