‘Shame On You’: Wife Of Afrikaner Arrested In The US Speaks Out

Wife Rejects Narrative Around ICE Arrest

The woman who claims to be the wife of arrested South African, Jacobus Lodevickus Janse Van Rensburg, has pushed back against the US immigration narrative that labelled him a criminal illegal alien. Tamra Janse van Rensburg, who identifies as American, insists the public has been misled and that her husband is not the violent offender ICE has portrayed.

Their Life In The US

According to Tamra, Jacobus arrived in the United States four years ago on an H-2A visa, which allows foreign nationals to work seasonally in the agricultural sector. The two met soon after, married, and applied for an adjustment of status before his visa expired. She says their interview with immigration officials in October 2025 raised no concerns, and they expected a routine approval.

A Past Mistake She Says He Has Addressed

Tamra acknowledges that Jacobus was convicted of offences in the US, but stresses they were linked to a single incident when he was 22. She says he completed probation, has been sober for more than two years, and has worked tirelessly on farms in the US. In her view, he deserves a second chance, not a headline branding him a threat.

ICE Charges And What Comes Next

ICE agents arrested Jacobus during a mass operation targeting individuals the agency classified as criminal illegal aliens. According to ICE, the charges include aggravated assault with a weapon, assault, and driving under the influence. These charges could trigger deportation proceedings if upheld.

Tamra disputes the severity of the allegations. She maintains that the assault was a mutual fight between two young men and that other charges were dismissed. Her plea is for immigration authorities to consider the full context of his life in the US rather than rely on what she calls incomplete or exaggerated information.

A Case Likely To Spark Debate

The arrest of a South African farmer on US soil would always generate attention, but the added layer of his wife publicly challenging the official narrative brings a new angle. Beyond one couple’s story, the situation taps into the broader debate about how the US immigration system categorises foreign nationals, how past misdemeanours are weighed, and who is ultimately seen as worthy of staying.

{Source:The South African }

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