Nearly 50 White South Africans were granted refugee status despite other refugee resettlement programs being suspended.
DULLES, Va. — President Donald Trump and other federal officials are defending a controversial decision to grant 49 white South Africans, otherwise referred to as Afrikaners, refugee status in the United States despite pausing other resettlement programs back in January.
A private charter carrying the newly resettled Afrikaners landed at Dulles International Airport from Johannesburg on Monday. They were greeted by federal leaders including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at a private hangar. He said the Afrikaners were under threats of violence amid a new law that critics say unfairly targets white landowners in South Africa.
“The president made it clear that Afrikaners in South Africa who are the victims of unjust racial discrimination would be welcomed to the United States,” Landau said.
Prior to their arrival, Trump repeated claims of genocide with no direct evidence.
“White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa,” the president said. “It’s a terrible thing that’s taking place and farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they are white or Black makes no difference to me.”
The South African government denied all of Trump’s allegations. The new law in question gives the South African government permission to take land without compensation in certain cases as they address disparities caused by the apartheid era, as previously reported by WUSA9 in a 2022 special.
To fast-track what’s normally a lengthy process to resettle migrants is sparking outrage among refugee groups. The White House suspended refugee resettlement programs when Trump first took office in January.
“It’s a big middle finger to any immigrants or refugees,” Homes Not Borders Executive Director Laura Thompson Osuri told WUSA9. “We’ve seen people that have been kidnapped, tortured, living under threats, family members killed and stuff like that. Those are the real refugees. Not this. Even if they were, then go through the same processes as the refugees and let the other refugees in.”
Landau said the refugee resettlement was paused because it was unclear whether they were being vetted in the interest of national security.
“All of these folks who have come in today have been carefully vetted pursuant to our refugee standards and whether or not the broader refugee programs for other people around the world is still an ongoing consideration,” Landau said.
President Trump said he is expected to meet with South African leadership next week.
In a letter, the Episcopal Church announced its refugee resettlement ministry will not be helping the Afrikaners who just arrived, citing its commitment to “racial justice and reconciliation.” The church also said it will end it partnership with the federal government this year.
