The United States is set to welcome its first group of white South African refugees early next week, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in February.
According to The New York Times, the group consists of Afrikaners—members of South Africa’s white minority—who the administration has classified as victims of racial discrimination.
The refugees are expected to arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, where U.S. officials are preparing to receive them in a symbolic event.
A memo from the Department of Health and Human Services reportedly outlines plans for their reception, though logistical details remain subject to change.
Trump’s executive order, signed on February 7, claims that Afrikaners—descendants of mostly Dutch settlers—face “unjust racial discrimination” in South Africa.
The decision has sparked controversy, both domestically and abroad.
South Africa’s Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected the U.S. claim, stating the order “lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa’s profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid.”
The move also follows Trump’s broader immigration policy, which had temporarily halted all U.S. refugee admissions, including thousands of vetted individuals from conflict zones such as Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Critics argue that the administration’s selective prioritization raises questions about equity and geopolitical motivations in U.S. refugee policy.
While officials caution that the Afrikaners’ arrival is still pending flight and processing arrangements, their pending resettlement marks a significant—and controversial—shift in America’s refugee admissions under the Trump administration.
