A group of white South Africans has arrived in the United States after being granted refugee status by the Trump administration, igniting controversy both in the U.S. and abroad. The group, primarily Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch colonists—was welcomed at Dulles International Airport by senior U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar.
Landau compared the Afrikaners’ migration to his own father’s escape from Nazi-occupied Europe, emphasizing the administration’s belief that the group faces racial persecution in South Africa. “We’re sending a clear message that the United States rejects the persecution of any people based on race,” he said.
The decision to prioritize Afrikaners has sparked backlash from human rights organizations, religious groups, and Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue that the policy reflects a racially biased immigration agenda. Laura Thompson Osuri, director of refugee non-profit Homes Not Borders, denounced the move, stating, “Afrikaners are not refugees. This is a political statement disguised as humanitarian action.”
The Episcopal Church announced it would end its longstanding refugee resettlement partnership with the federal government, citing the contradiction between the resettlement of white South Africans and the Church’s commitment to racial justice.
Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected claims of racial persecution, asserting that U.S. officials had been misinformed. “We’ll continue talking to them,” he said, highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts to address the legacies of apartheid.