Wayne Lumbasi
The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to admit up to 17,500 refugees during the 2027 fiscal year, with the majority expected to be Afrikaners from South Africa, according to a notice sent to Congress by the US State Department.
The proposal marks a significant shift in the United States refugee programme, which has historically provided resettlement opportunities to people fleeing war, persecution and humanitarian crises across different parts of the world. Under the new proposal, admissions would consist primarily of Afrikaners, the white ethnic minority in South Africa.
The Trump administration has argued that Afrikaners face racial discrimination and persecution in South Africa, pointing to issues including land reform policies, violence against farmers and statements by some South African political figures. The South African government has rejected the characterization of Afrikaners as a persecuted minority and has disputed claims that white South Africans face systematic racial persecution.
The proposed programme is expected to cost the US government approximately $500 million. The State Department has also indicated that the administration expects those admitted under the programme to assimilate into American society while seeking to limit the burden on US taxpayers.
The proposal builds on a policy introduced by the Trump administration in 2025. After returning to office, Trump suspended the broader US Refugee Admissions Program while allowing exceptions for groups whose admission was considered to be in the national interest. His administration subsequently created a pathway specifically for Afrikaners from South Africa.
In May 2026, the administration increased the refugee admissions ceiling for that fiscal year from 7,500 to 17,500, with the additional places designated for Afrikaners. The administration cited what it described as racial tensions and threats facing the group in South Africa.
The proposed ceiling is considerably lower than refugee admission levels under previous US administrations. The United States had set a refugee ceiling of 125,000 for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, while more than 100,000 refugees were admitted in 2024. By August 2026, however, fewer than 3,000 refugees had reportedly been admitted during the fiscal year, with all but three coming from South Africa.
The concentration of the programme on Afrikaners has attracted criticism from refugee organisations, which argue that people fleeing wars and persecution in other parts of the world are being given fewer opportunities for resettlement. The Trump administration maintains that its policy reflects its assessment of the circumstances facing Afrikaners and US national interests.
The 17,500 figure represents the maximum number of refugees the administration proposes to admit rather than a guarantee that exactly 17,500 people will enter the United States. Applicants would still have to undergo the required refugee screening and meet US eligibility requirements before being admitted.
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