US defends Afrikaner refugee priority, cites persecution claims IOL

Washington has reiterated its commitment to prioritising Afrikaners for US refugee resettlement, saying the decision responds to concerns about discrimination and threats faced by the minority group, according to IOL.

US departments defend programme

In comments to IOL, the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department defended the arrangement that treats Afrikaners as a priority group for refugee admissions.

“The Department of Homeland Security is committed to resettling Afrikaner refugees who are being persecuted by the SA government,” USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler told IOL on Thursday.

The State Department told IOL the decision was based on “concerns about discrimination and threats faced by Afrikaners,” adding that,

“President Trump has been very clear that we are prioritising the resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, a US policy indicated in EO 14204.”

Claims and criticisms highlighted

According to IOL, Washington characterised actions by some South African politicians as endangering “Afrikaner lives and property” and described the country’s empowerment scoring system as “corrupt.”

programme transparency and applicant experience

Neither the State Department nor Homeland Security would disclose how many South Africans had applied, how many had been accepted or how many had been rejected, IOL reports.

IOL also said that ineligibility letters dated June 30 had been sent to applicants in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, and that those letters gave no reasons and provided no route of appeal.

The report added that many of the people who received those letters had already taken substantial steps to prepare to leave: they had resigned from their jobs, sold their possessions, received the required vaccinations and completed orientation courses for people preparing to leave, according to IOL.

Screening and appeal process

USCIS told IOL that not every applicant was accepted and that determinations of ineligibility could not be appealed. In IOL’s account, USCIS said those found ineligible were notified and that ineligibility could stem from public safety concerns or criminal histories.

What IOL reported

• USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler told IOL the Department of Homeland Security is committed to resettling Afrikaner refugees who are being persecuted by the SA government.
• The State Department told IOL the policy prioritising Afrikaners is indicated in Executive Order 14204 and rests on concerns about race-based discrimination.
• IOL reported that Washington told it SA politicians endanger Afrikaner lives and property and called the empowerment scoring system corrupt.
• IOL said neither department would disclose application, acceptance or rejection numbers.
• IOL reported that ineligibility letters dated June 30 were sent to applicants in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape with no reasons or appeal route, and that many recipients had already prepared to leave by resigning jobs, selling possessions, getting vaccinations and completing orientation courses.

Reporting: IOL.