U.S President Donald Trump reportedly raised the ceiling for admitting refugees by 10,000 for this year to accommodate more white South Africans into the country.
Reuters reviewed a signed presidential document, dated May 21, which stated that white South Africans of Akrikaner ethnicity face an emergency situation due to the “incitement of racially motivated violence” by the government and political parties in South Africa, a majority-Black country. Afrikaners and other white South Africans constitute 7% of the population in the African nation.
Trump had frozen refugee admissions from across the globe when he took office in January 2025 for his second term but then launched a program exclusively aimed at bringing in white South Africans. Government figures show that the administration has admitted only three non-South African refugees during the current fiscal year.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the South African Foreign Ministry Chrispin Phiri, spoke to Reuters, dismissing Trump’s claims that white Afrikaners face danger and discrimination.
“The assertion that white Afrikaners, in particular, endure systematic persecution is entirely without foundation,” said Phiri.
The White House document did not specify any instances of South Africa’s current government being involved in racial persecution.
A State Department spokesperson did not confirm the contents of the document but said the program was on Trump’s priority and that he would determine the refugee levels.
President Trump initially set the refugee ceiling at a record-low of 7,500 for the 2026 fiscal year, which is set to end on September 30. However, government figures show that the administration had already brought in 6,000 white South Africans as of April. If the reports on Trump raising the ceiling levels are correct, the total ceiling will be 17,500.
A U.S official and an internal governmemt email reviewed by Reuters also reveal that Trump is looking to bring white South African refugees to the White House for World Refugee Day on June 20.
