U.S. officials say they may resettle up to 10,000 additional white South African refugees, bringing the potential total of Afrikaner admissions to 17,500 through the fiscal year ending in September. The State Department cited hostile rhetoric from South African officials and a December raid on a U.S. processing center as reasons for an "emergency" designation. Pretoria denies the allegations, and South African experts say there is no evidence whites are being targeted by race; the move will be discussed with Congress and is estimated to cost roughly $100 million.
U.S. To Admit Up To 10,000 More White South African Refugees, Citing Emergency for Afrikaners
FILE - South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa receives military honors during a welcome ceremony at the Planalto Presidential Palace, prior to a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Brazil, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Nova, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The Trump administration has informed Congress that it plans to admit up to 10,000 additional white South African refugees in the coming months, saying new developments in South Africa have created an "emergency refugee situation" for Afrikaners.
The State Department's emergency notice, obtained by news outlets Monday, says the United States could resettle as many as 17,500 Afrikaners — white South Africans largely descended from Dutch settlers — through the fiscal year ending in September. That figure is up from an earlier cap of 7,500 the administration had signaled.
Administration Rationale
The notice cites what it describes as escalating hostility from elements of the South African government, including "rhetoric across multiple ministries and political parties" that it says has undermined the U.S. resettlement program and attacked Afrikaners. It also references a December raid by South African officials on a U.S. refugee processing center, calling the action "unacceptable."
President Donald Trump speaks about prescription drug prices in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
"This escalating hostility heightens the risks to Afrikaners in South Africa, who are already subject to far-reaching government-sponsored race-based discrimination," the State Department said in its notice.
Responses And Context
Pretoria has rejected the claims as baseless. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has told U.S. counterparts that the government does not condone violence against farmers and that such behavior is not government policy. South African experts have likewise said there is no evidence that white people are being targeted for their race, noting that farmers of all races face violence in a country with a high overall crime rate.
The issue has previously produced a heated Oval Office exchange between President Trump and President Ramaphosa, during which Mr. Trump played a video featuring a politician chanting a song with the words "kill the farmer." Mr. Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of not doing enough to address attacks on farming communities.
Practical Details
By law, the administration must notify and consult with Congress when it sets refugee ceilings; officials are scheduled to meet with lawmakers this week to discuss the emergency notice. The State Department estimated the cost of resettling the additional 10,000 refugees at about $100 million.
The administration's move contrasts with its broader refugee policy, which has significantly lowered annual refugee admissions compared with recent predecessors; the initially announced 7,500 ceiling was the lowest since the modern U.S. refugee program began in 1980.
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