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Which US State Has the Highest South African Refugee Population? Texas Leads
Almost 5,000 South Africans – predominantly white Afrikaners – have taken up refugee resettlement in the US to date, data has revealed.
The programme was commissioned by President Donald Trump via executive order in February 2025 to aid victims of “racial injustice.”
Trump has directly accused the South African government of “killing” white people and “stealing” their landclaims widely hailed as disinformation.
The Numbers
To date, around 4,800 refugees have flown to the US, government data has revealed.
According to US intelligence analyst Chris Wyatts , the following states have the highest populations of South Africans, as documented in the last fiscal year:
| State | Number |
|---|---|
| Texas | 543 |
| Florida | 331 |
| California | 316 |
| Michigan | 185 |
| New York | 175 |
| Iowa | 169 |
Only South Africans?
Government data revealed that 99.9% of refugees accepted into the US in the last fiscal year (from October 2025) have been solely from South Africa. Only three were not from the country.
While the programme is open to all racial minorities, it has predominantly been taken up by white Afrikaners.
In December, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that white Afrikaner South Africans were the only “refugees” permitted in the country.
“Refugee admissions into the country right now are essentially at zero, with the exception of Afrikaners fleeing persecution in South Africa.”
Plans to Ramp Up Intake
According to a Reuters report in February, the US administration has signed off on plans to drastically increase the approval rate for applications from South African refugees.
Last year, President Trump allocated an intake of 7,500 refugees in the next fiscal year, primarily of Afrikaner descent. However, reports suggest this number could exceed 40,000 , with around 4,500 applications processed each month.
To expedite the process, a contracting document revealed that a modular village – consisting of multiple trailers – would be erected at the US Embassy in Pretoria.
The Bottom Line
4,800 South Africans have already left. Texas is the top destination. The programme is expanding.
Trump says they are fleeing persecution. South Africa says it’s disinformation.
The refugees keep coming. And the modular village in Pretoria is waiting.
{Source: TheSouthAfrican}
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