Trump Administration Slashes U.S. Refugee Cap to 7,500, Prioritizes White South Africans
WASHINGTON — In a dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy, the Trump administration has announced it will drastically reduce the number of refugees admitted into the United States for the upcoming fiscal year, setting the cap at 7,500. The figure represents a fraction of the 125,000 ceiling established under the Biden administration and marks one of the lowest refugee quotas in the history of the U.S. refugee program.
The administration’s plan includes a controversial focus: a majority of the limited spots will be allocated to white South Africans, specifically Afrikaners, whom officials claim face “racial discrimination and violence” in their home country.
“The United States has a duty to protect those facing targeted persecution,” a senior administration official stated. “We have seen compelling evidence that the Afrikaner community in South Africa is subject to systemic violence and land seizures, and we are offering a lifeline.”
The policy has drawn immediate and fierce condemnation from the South African government. In a sharply worded statement, officials in Pretoria labeled the administration’s claims “completely false” and driven by a campaign of misinformation.
“There is no state-sanctioned persecution of any ethnic group in South Africa,” the statement read. “Our democracy is founded on the principle of equality for all. This misguided policy appears to be based on fringe narratives and not the reality of our nation.”
The 7,500-person refugee cap is a fraction of the historical average for the program and continues a trend of reduction seen during the previous Trump term. Refugee advocates and human rights organizations have decried the move.
“Slashing refugee admissions at a time of global displacement crises is an abdication of American leadership,” said Eleanor Vance, director of the Refugee Advocacy Project. “To then funnel these precious few spots based on a contested and politically motivated claim is deeply alarming.”
The focus on Afrikaners, descendants of predominantly Dutch settlers, aligns with a long-standing cause among some conservative circles, who argue the minority group faces a threat of “white genocide” — a claim widely rejected by mainstream historians and South African political analysts.
The announcement sets the stage for a significant diplomatic rift between the two nations and is likely to intensify domestic debates over U.S. immigration policy and the criteria used to determine refugee status.
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