US considers R6m campaign to understand why Afrikaners are not taking Trump’s refugee offer

The proposed research and advertising campaign follows lower-than-expected applications for a US refugee programme that prioritises Afrikaners.

The United States government is considering spending approximately $335,000, or about R6 million, on research and advertising in South Africa to find out why fewer Afrikaners than expected are applying for refugee status in the US.

According to a proposal reported by The Guardian, US officials want to investigate the reasons behind the lower-than-expected interest in the programme and develop a campaign to encourage more applications.

The proposal was reportedly prepared in August by the US mission in South Africa and a State Department research unit for the US embassy in Pretoria.

It follows a policy introduced by President Donald Trump in 2025 that prioritises refugee resettlement for Afrikaners, based on claims that they face racial discrimination in South Africa.

The South African government has rejected claims of a white genocide, saying there is no reliable evidence to support the allegation.

Why did the US introduce the refugee programme?

The programme stems from an executive order signed by Trump in February 2025, directing officials to prioritise Afrikaner resettlement while broader refugee admissions were restricted.

The administration has argued that white Afrikaners face racial discrimination and targeted violence, particularly in farming communities.

Pretoria has disputed this position, maintaining that violent crime affects communities across the country and that land reform policies do not amount to a campaign of racial persecution.

In May 2026, the Trump administration proposed increasing the refugee admissions ceiling for Afrikaners to 17,500 for the 2026 period, up from the previous limit of 7,500.

The policy has become a source of tension between Washington and Pretoria, adding to disagreements over South Africa’s domestic policies and foreign relations.

Applications have been lower than expected

Despite the programme’s emphasis on Afrikaner resettlement, US officials say applications have not reached anticipated levels.

The proposal states that Afrikaners were allowed to apply directly online from November 2025, but the number of applications subsequently remained below expectations.

“There’s currently little research about why Afrikaners are not applying to request referral into the US Refugee Admissions Program,” the document reportedly states.

The planned research aims to establish what is discouraging potential applicants from pursuing the offer.

In July, The Citizen reported that some white South Africans who had hoped to relocate to the US were informed that their refugee applications had been rejected. Some had reportedly resigned from jobs, sold possessions and completed preparation requirements before receiving the news.

What would the proposed R6m campaign involve?

The proposal outlines a three-phase project combining research and targeted advertising.

The first phase would involve focus groups in selected South African communities to gather views on the refugee programme and understand attitudes towards emigration.

The second phase would involve a survey of approximately 1,000 Afrikaners.

The final phase would be a six-month digital advertising campaign, primarily in Afrikaans, aimed at people who may be interested in relocating to the US.

The proposed research would cover areas including Pretoria, Krugersdorp, Bloemfontein, Stellenbosch, Kimberley and Orania.

The campaign would be designed to help officials understand why the offer has attracted less interest than anticipated and potentially encourage more eligible people to apply.

The proposal is still a plan under consideration, rather than confirmation that the full campaign has been implemented.

A wider dispute between Washington and Pretoria

The refugee programme has become part of broader diplomatic tensions between the US and South Africa.

Trump has repeatedly made claims about the treatment of white South Africans, including allegations of a white genocide. The South African government has rejected these claims as unfounded.

The proposed advertising campaign raises further questions about Washington’s efforts to promote the programme in South Africa, particularly given the limited uptake reported by US officials.

For now, the planned research is intended to establish why the offer has failed to generate the level of interest the administration expected.

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Source: The Citizen