The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a significant expansion of its refugee admissions policy, with plans that could more than double the current annual limit to accommodate additional white South Africans, according to individuals familiar with internal discussions.
The proposal comes after Trump, a Republican, suspended refugee admissions from many parts of the world upon taking office in January 2025.
Shortly after, he issued an executive order prioritising resettlement for Afrikaners—white South Africans of European descent—arguing that they face race-based persecution in South Africa, a claim strongly rejected by Pretoria.
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, established in 1980, was originally designed to provide safe haven for individuals fleeing persecution and conflict globally.
However, under the current administration, the program has reportedly shifted focus, with Afrikaners making up the majority of recent admissions.
According to sources cited in the discussions, U.S. officials have been exploring an increase of roughly 10,000 additional slots beyond the existing cap of 7,500 refugees for fiscal year 2026.
The White House has not confirmed the proposal, instead stating that any changes to the refugee ceiling would be announced officially if approved.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said that any figures currently being discussed are speculative and that no final decision has been made regarding adjustments to the refugee cap.
South Africa’s government has consistently rejected claims of systemic persecution of white citizens, noting that crime and socioeconomic challenges affect all racial groups in the country.
During apartheid, which ended in 1994, South Africa enforced institutional racial segregation, but the country has since transitioned into a democratic system.
Today, Black South Africans make up the overwhelming majority of the population, while white South Africans, including Afrikaners, represent a small minority.
Reports indicate that under the current U.S. approach, thousands of South Africans have already been admitted through the refugee system, with numbers expected to exceed earlier limits.
However, officials are also said to be considering expanding eligibility to other groups, including religious minorities from Iran and former Soviet states, under existing humanitarian frameworks such as the “Lautenberg Program.”
That program, originally introduced in 1989 by then-U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, was designed to ease refugee access for persecuted religious minorities, particularly Jewish communities from the former Soviet Union.
Meanwhile, internal communications reviewed by Reuters suggest that some South Africans who recently arrived in the United States under refugee resettlement programmes have already returned home, citing personal and family-related reasons as well as difficulties adjusting to life abroad.
One reported case involved individuals in multiple U.S. states who left within weeks of arrival, with internal notes referencing family health concerns and reconsideration of long-term relocation plans.
The proposed expansion, if approved, would mark another major shift in U.S. refugee policy under Trump, who has significantly reduced overall admissions compared to previous administrations while prioritising specific groups.
While discussions remain ongoing, no official policy change has been announced, and government officials continue to emphasise that final decisions rest with the president at the appropriate time.
