US Refugee Policy Sees Majority from South Africa

Fri Apr 10 2026 07:36:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Since October 2025, the US has welcomed 4,499 refugees, with nearly all hailing from South Africa amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.

New data reveals a significant influx of South African refugees into the US following a controversial policy change during the Trump administration. From October 2025 to now, 4,499 refugees were admitted, nearly all from South Africa, with only three exceptions from Afghanistan. This shift has raised diplomatic tensions between the US and South Africa, as the latter criticizes claims surrounding 'white genocide' and the prioritization of Afrikaners during the refugee admissions process.

President Donald Trump's overhaul of US refugee policies has caused a notable change in who gets admitted to the country, with new data from the Refugee Processing Center indicating that since October 2025, 4,499 refugees have been resettled in the US, predominately from South Africa.

Of the total, only three individuals were from Afghanistan, illustrating a dramatic shift in the demographics of US-bound refugees.

In the fiscal year preceding this, under President Biden, the US accepted 125,000 refugees from 85 different countries. The contrast is stark. In a move that shocked many, Trump had initially halted all refugee admissions, including applicants from war zones, yet subsequently allowed white Afrikaners in South Africa to apply for resettlement, citing persecution against them, a stance that has met with strong objections from the South African government.

Trump's administration emphasized that this policy would enhance national security and public safety, prioritizing Afrikaners and those facing unjust discrimination. However, South Africa condemned this characterization, asserting that claims of racial persecution lacked credible evidence.

The first group of 68 South African refugees was cleared for resettlement in May last year, and since then, numbers have surged, particularly through February and March 2026, with 2,848 arrivals.

Currently, the largest concentration of these refugees resides in Texas, as tensions between the US and South Africa continue to escalate. The diplomatic fallout peaked last year when South Africa's ambassador to the US was expelled after he accused Trump of inciting racial supremacy.

Despite the criticisms, the narrative surrounding these policy changes continues to evolve, highlighting the complexities of immigration and refugee admissions amidst international relations.