The Trump administration is preparing to cap U.S. refugee admissions at about 40,000 for 2026, with roughly 30,000 spots reserved for White South Africans, Reuters reports.
Two U.S. officials said the program will primarily benefit Afrikaners, a Dutch-descended minority that President Trump has pledged to prioritize, citing alleged persecution in South Africa.
The proposed cap marks a major shift in refugee policy—down from the 100,000 admissions recorded in President Joe Biden’s final year, but higher than the 15,000 ceiling Trump set in 2021.
Since returning to office in January, Trump froze refugee admissions before unveiling the Afrikaner-specific program, claiming the group faces racial discrimination and threats of violence.
The South African government has dismissed those claims as baseless, accusing Trump of politicizing immigration policy.
If approved, the plan would significantly reshape the U.S. refugee system and reignite debate over racial bias in America’s immigration priorities.
