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Wednesday, January 21, 2026

White Afrikaners get priority access to the US, amid refugee cap

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White Afrikaners will have priority access to become refugees in the United States, as the White House announces a dramatic cut to refugee admissions.

 

The Trump administration published a notice advising that only 7,500 refugees would be allowed into the country over the next year, which is the lowest cap on refugee admissions on record.

 

In the notice, dated 30 September, it announced that those spots would be primarily allocated to white Afrikaners, and other victims of alleged “unjust discrimination in their homelands”.  

 

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“Refugee admissions under this determination, which may reach but not exceed the numerical limit described herein, are in all respects subject to the requirements of other Presidential policies and actions, whether issued prior or subsequent to this determination,” read the notice.  

 

These presidential policies include, but are not limited to, several executive orders and a proclamation regulating refugee entry into the United States, such as strict identity verification, Afrikaner resettlement and restricted access for foreign nationals deemed harmful to national interests. 

 

The official memorandum explained that the cap was “justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest”.  

 

The move comes as President Donald Trump continues his bid to tighten the country’s refugee policy.  

 

The new ceiling halves the previous record low of 15,000 set in 2021, during Trump’s first term. It also revives his earlier push to prioritise South African Afrikaners, an initiative first launched after he temporarily halted all refugee admissions when he took office this year.  

 

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Afrikaners face persecution in South Africa, which has been denied by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African government on more than one occasion.  

 

*This article has been updated to include additional information.

Caitlin Maledo
Caitlin Maledo
Caitlin is an enthusiastic journalist, that has been exploring her interest in broadcast media since 2019. With a natural curiosity for the world around her, you'll always find her poking around hidden gems throughout Cape Town and surrounds.

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