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US Resettles White South Africans Amid Claims of “Genocide”: 49 South Africans land in US

Published

4 months ago

May 13, 2025

taryn

In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has granted refugee status to around 50 white South Africans, allowing them to resettle in the United States despite claims from the South African government that they are not facing persecution. The group arrived in the U.S. on Monday, landing at Dulles Airport in Virginia after their flight from Johannesburg. Several of the resettled South Africans waved small American flags as they were greeted by Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau.

Now Just In: Watch as the first 49 Afrikaners have arrived and been met by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and the deputy secretary of homeland security Troy Edgar. pic.twitter.com/Mig8iTWKdE

— NOWinSA (@NowInSA) May 12, 2025

Trump previously stated that the Afrikaners were fleeing a “terrible situation” in South Africa, where they face what he called a “genocide.” The resettlement decision has sparked widespread debate, with Trump accusing the South African government of mistreating Afrikaner farmers and repeatedly bringing up the issue of violence against them.

[WATCH] U.S. President Donald Trump has again erroneously stated that there is a genocide happening in South Africa as justification for his executive order allowing white Afrikaners who claim discrimination to acquire refugee status and an expedited path to citizenship in the… pic.twitter.com/e9d1RzTgkO

— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 12, 2025

However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed these claims, stating that white Afrikaners are not being persecuted. “This is not true,” Ramaphosa said, stressing that a refugee must face real threats like political, religious, or economic persecution, which he argued did not apply to the South African Afrikaners.

Towards a powerful Africa: The road to economic, political and commercial integration#ACF2025 #AfricaCEOForum https://t.co/WykcZ6A3pJ

— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 12, 2025

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola also rejected the idea that white South Africans were being targeted for violence, noting that the majority of victims in South Africa’s violent crimes are young black men in urban areas.

Despite the South African government’s stance, Trump defended the move, arguing that the race of the individuals being resettled was irrelevant. “It’s a terrible situation, and we’ve extended citizenship to those people to escape from violence,” Trump stated, also accusing South Africa of targeting Afrikaners with land seizure laws.

The resettlement program requires applicants to demonstrate a history of persecution or a fear of future persecution. However, critics have pointed out that white South Africans, who make up just 7.3% of the population, generally enjoy a higher standard of living compared to the black majority, with many still owning significant portions of farmland and earning significantly more than black South Africans.

Prominent Afrikaner author Max du Preez described the resettlement as “beyond absurd,” stating that the decision was more about Trump’s political agenda than actual persecution in South Africa. Du Preez suggested that the individuals involved might be motivated by financial reasons or a reluctance to live in a post-apartheid society.

The controversy surrounding the resettlement continues to highlight the complex racial dynamics in South Africa, as well as the political tensions between the U.S. and South Africa.