US has let in 4,499 refugees since October - all but three were South African

April 10, 2026

The Trump administration has dramatically transformed U.S. refugee admissions, with government data revealing that nearly all of the 4,499 refugees resettled since October 2025 have been South African, primarily white Afrikaners. This represents a stark departure from the previous Biden administration, which accepted 125,000 refugees from 85 different nations during its final fiscal year. Trump justified the policy change by claiming Afrikaners face persecution in South Africa, a characterization the South African government has strongly disputed and called unsupported by evidence.

Who is affected

South African Afrikaners (primarily white minority group members) who have been resettled in the U.S.
Refugees from other countries and war zones who are no longer being admitted
The South African government and its diplomatic relations with the U.S.
South Africa's ambassador Ebrahim Rasool (who was expelled)
President Cyril Ramaphosa and coalition partner John Steenhuisen
U.S. states receiving refugees, particularly Texas (with 543 refugees)

What action is being taken

4,499 refugees (almost exclusively South African) are being resettled in the U.S. since October 2025
The Trump administration is prioritizing refugee applications from Afrikaner South Africans
South African refugees are being distributed across the U.S., with concentrations in states like Texas
The State Department is maintaining its position on the humanitarian initiative

Why it matters

This policy shift matters because it represents a fundamental restructuring of U.S. refugee priorities, reducing total admissions by over 95% while focusing on a single ethnic group from one country rather than providing humanitarian relief globally. The change has significant diplomatic implications, straining U.S.-South Africa relations and raising international concerns about the criteria used for refugee selection. The policy also contradicts assessments by South African leaders, including white coalition partners, and prominent Afrikaner community members who reject claims of systematic persecution.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC