‘Mission South Africa’: How Trump Is Offering White Afrikaners Refugee Status

Shortly after assuming office, President Trump initiated a drastic reduction in refugee resettlement programs, cutting billions in funding and effectively closing the door on asylum seekers from numerous nations.

However, there was a notable exception.

According to documents obtained by The New York Times, the Trump administration actively facilitated the resettlement of white Afrikaners from South Africa through a specialized initiative called “Mission South Africa.”

As part of the first phase of the program, U.S. authorities established temporary refugee centers by repurposing commercial office spaces in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. These centers were set up to assess more than 8,200 expressions of interest in relocating to the United States. So far, officials have already identified 100 Afrikaners who could be granted refugee status. Particular attention has been given to white Afrikaner farmers during this vetting process.

To ensure the process runs smoothly, U.S. officials conducting refugee interviews have been provided with security escorts. By mid-April, these officials are expected to propose long-term strategies to facilitate the successful implementation of the president’s vision for Afrikaner resettlement, according to a memo sent from the U.S. embassy in Pretoria to the State Department in Washington.

This prioritization of white Afrikaners stands in stark contrast to the administration’s broader refugee policy, which has effectively halted the resettlement of thousands of asylum seekers from countries such as Afghanistan, Congo, and Syria. Many of these refugees had already been approved for entry before President Trump took office, yet their admission was blocked as the administration argued in court filings that the refugee program’s core functions had been “terminated.” Officials claimed that due to limited resources, additional admissions could not be accommodated.

Critics have pointed to the racial motivations underlying these policies. “There is nothing subtle about the racial bias in this administration’s immigration and refugee policies,” said Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of America’s Voice. “They are singling out white Afrikaners for preferential treatment while portraying Black and brown refugees as a threat, despite extensive background checks proving otherwise.”

The “Mission South Africa” program has also stirred controversy within South Africa itself. A segment of the white Afrikaner minority has actively portrayed themselves as victims in post-apartheid South Africa. Historically, under the apartheid regime, a white minority government systematically oppressed nonwhite South Africans through discriminatory laws, violence, and political repression. While crimes against white farmers have occurred, South African police statistics indicate that they are not disproportionately targeted compared to other groups in the country. Over 90% of South Africa’s population consists of people from racial groups that suffered under apartheid-era policies.

In an official statement, the U.S. State Department justified its focus on resettling Afrikaners by claiming that they have been “victims of unjust racial discrimination.” The department confirmed that applicant interviews had begun and that all candidates would be subject to “strict background and security checks.”

Resettlement officials warn that the administration’s selective allocation of resources to white Afrikaners while denying entry to previously approved refugees jeopardizes the integrity of the U.S. refugee program. “The government has demonstrated that it can process applications efficiently when it chooses to do so,” said Melissa Keaney, senior supervising attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project.

President Trump initially suspended refugee admissions on his first day in office through an executive order, arguing that admitting refugees placed an undue burden on American resources. He later specified that future refugee policies should prioritize individuals who could “fully assimilate into American society.”

A federal judge in Seattle later temporarily blocked the executive order and ordered the administration to restore the refugee program. However, despite this ruling, the Trump administration reduced funding for organizations assisting overseas refugee applicants, severely limiting the infrastructure needed to process new applications.

Last week, an appeals court ruled that the administration must admit thousands of refugees who had already been granted entry before Trump took office. However, the court did not prevent the administration from suspending the admission of new refugees. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has continued to delay the processing of previously approved refugee applications, despite legal pressure from advocacy groups. While the Trump administration has claimed that some vetted refugees have been allowed entry, the State Department has declined to provide exact figures.

The administration’s priorities became evident when it carved out a special program for white Afrikaners. Trump had previously claimed that the South African government was seizing land from white farmers, promoting a long-standing conspiracy theory about the supposed persecution of white South Africans post-apartheid.

His comments referenced the Expropriation Act, a South African law that replaced apartheid-era land policies and allows the government, under specific circumstances, to acquire privately held land without compensation, subject to judicial review.

For years, Trump and his allies have echoed the concerns of white Afrikaners. During his presidency, Trump instructed the State Department to investigate claims of land seizures and “large-scale killings of farmers.” Similarly, Elon Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur who is not of Afrikaner descent, has also falsely suggested that white farmers in South Africa are being murdered daily.

Despite these claims, white South Africans, who make up only 7% of the population, still own approximately half of the country’s land. Furthermore, police data do not indicate that they face a heightened risk of violent crime compared to other groups.

Ernst Roets, former executive director of the Afrikaner Foundation, a group advocating for international recognition of Afrikaner interests, noted that many of his peers felt validated by Trump’s actions. However, he acknowledged that the new refugee program had sparked debate among Afrikaners. While some consider emigrating, others seek U.S. support for their efforts to achieve “self-governance” within South Africa.

“I don’t personally know anyone planning to relocate to America,” Roets remarked. “If some Afrikaners or farmers wish to move, we would support that. We believe they would make great Americans.”

While white Afrikaners have been granted an expedited pathway to the United States, many Black African refugees continue to face insurmountable barriers. Zumbe Baruti, a Congolese refugee residing in South Carolina, spent decades in a refugee camp before being granted entry.

“White Africans are being welcomed into the U.S., while Black Africans are turned away,” said Baruti, 29, speaking in Swahili. He condemned the administration’s shift in focus as blatant “discrimination.”

Baruti, a member of the Bembe ethnic group from the Democratic Republic of Congo, fled ethnic violence as a child. Though he obtained refugee status in 2023, his wife and three young children remained in limbo, awaiting security clearance. After arriving in the United States two years ago, he dedicated himself to securing employment, saving money, and navigating the bureaucratic process to reunite with his family.

Initially, he was assured that his family would likely join him within two years. However, with Trump’s shifting priorities, his hopes have dimmed.

“When it comes to my family,” Baruti said, “I no longer have much hope.”