U.S. Plans to Accept Thousands of White South African Refugees

WHO:

CNN - The Trump administration.

CNN - White South Africans, specifically Afrikaners.

WHAT:

CNN - The Trump administration has informed Congress that admissions will “primarily be Afrikaners from South Africa,” according to a report submitted to Congress.

CNN - The administration increased the refugee ceiling for South Africans to 17,500 for fiscal year 2026, reserving the overwhelming majority of those openings for White South Africans, primarily Afrikaners.

CNN - The State Department's report to Congress states that the United States anticipates that Afrikaners from South Africa will fully assimilate into the United States in a manner that preserves taxpayer resources for U.S. citizens and does not anticipate other countries resettling Afrikaners.

CNN - The Trump administration intends to accept 17,500 refugees, primarily White South Africans, in fiscal year 2027.

CBS News Politics - The Trump administration is planning to welcome up to 17,500 additional White Afrikaners from South Africa as refugees over the next 12 months.

CNN - The proposed resettlement is expected to cost approximately $500 million.

WHERE:

CNN - South Africa.

CNN - The United States.

WHEN:

CNN - Fiscal year 2027.

WHY:

CNN - The State Department argues that Afrikaners from South Africa face discrimination in their home country.

CNN - President Trump has stated that nearly all refugees admitted to the United States would be White South Africans, reshaping a decades-long program.

HOW:

CNN - The refugee program has generated highly unusual requests from applicants and produced high denial rates, due in part to criminal records among some applicants, according to more than a dozen people familiar with the program.

CNN - The administration increased the refugee cap for South Africans from 7,500 to 17,500 through an emergency determination.

CNN - The refugee program has sparked diplomatic spats and prompted a scramble to open a processing site in South Africa.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 22:58 UTC)

The Trump administration has notified Congress that the majority of refugee admissions will be Afrikaners from South Africa. For fiscal year 2026, the administration has raised the refugee ceiling for South Africans to 17,500, with most of those openings specifically reserved for White South Africans, primarily Afrikaners. This report was submitted to Congress and highlights the administration's focus on this particular group.

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(UPDATED September 22, 2026 22:01 UTC)

The State Department has informed Congress that the United States expects Afrikaners from South Africa to fully assimilate while ensuring that taxpayer resources are preserved for U.S. citizens, with no expectation of other countries resettling them. This comes as the refugee program faces unusual requests from applicants and high denial rates, largely attributed to the criminal records of some individuals seeking entry. More than a dozen sources familiar with the program have confirmed these challenges.

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(UPDATED September 22, 2026 20:59 UTC)

The Trump administration plans to accept up to 17,500 refugees, primarily White South Africans, in fiscal year 2027, significantly increasing the refugee cap from 7,500. This proposed resettlement, which is expected to cost around $500 million, comes as the State Department argues that Afrikaners face discrimination in their home country. The administration is also working to establish a processing site in South Africa amid diplomatic tensions surrounding the program.