‘I believed the hype’: the white South Africans denied refugee status in the US
Dozens of white South Africans who moved to the U.S. under a special refugee program have had their applications rejected. Many applicants were motivated by claims of 'white genocide,' a narrative that has faced scrutiny as the resettlement program continues to process thousands of arrivals.
Why it matters
The situation underscores the intersection of domestic U.S. immigration policy and the complex racial and economic landscape of post-apartheid South Africa.
More than 13,000 Afrikaners have moved to the US as refugees since the first group arrived in May 2025.-EFE More than 13,000 Afrikaners have moved to the US as refugees since the first group arrived in May 2025.-EFE South Africa ‘I believed the hype’: the white South Africans denied refugee status in the US Drive to save thousands of Afrikaners from false claims of ‘white genocide’ appears to show signs of slowing
Prefer the Guardian on Google When Donald Trump announced in February 2025 that the US would accept Afrikaners from South Africa as refugees, many white South Africans who believed that they were victims of racism in their country thought that their prayers had been answered.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in