Trump Administration Moves To Admit Up To 17,500 Afrikaner Refugees In 2026
On Monday, May 18, 2026, the State Department told Congress it will admit up to 17,500 Afrikaners as refugees to the United States in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026.[1]
The notice raises the cap from an earlier 7,500 and describes the new allotment as mostly Afrikaners.[1] It says "unforeseen developments in South Africa created an emergency refugee situation" and points to escalating anti-U.S. and anti-Afrikaner rhetoric from President Cyril Ramaphosa and other officials.[1] The State Department also referenced a December 2025 raid by South African officials on a U.S. refugee processing center in South Africa as part of its justification.[1] The administration estimates resettling the additional 10,000 people will cost about $100 million.[1]
In May 2025, President Trump showed Ramaphosa a video of a far-left politician chanting "kill the farmer" during an Oval Office meeting.[1] Trump later cut off aid to South Africa and boycotted the 2025 G-20 summit in Johannesburg over the issue.[1]
Experts in South Africa told reporters there is no evidence that whites are being systematically targeted, though farmers of all races face high levels of violence.[1] CBS News also reported the administration's proposal on May 18.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, May 18, 2026, the State Department sent an emergency notice to Congress saying it will admit up to 17,500 Afrikaners as refugees in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026 — up from an earlier cap of 7,500 and described as mostly Afrikaners.
- The notice says "unforeseen developments in South Africa created an emergency refugee situation" and cites escalating anti‑U.S. and anti‑Afrikaner rhetoric from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and other officials.
- As part of its justification, the State Department references a December 2025 raid by South African officials on a U.S. refugee processing center.
- The administration estimates the cost of resettling the additional 10,000 Afrikaner refugees at about $100 million.
- The article recounts that during a May 2025 Oval Office meeting, President Trump showed Ramaphosa a video of a far‑left politician chanting "kill the farmer" and that Trump subsequently cut off aid to South Africa and boycotted the 2025 G‑20 summit in Johannesburg over the issue.
- Experts in South Africa cited in the story say there is no evidence that whites are being systematically targeted for their race, although farmers of all races face high levels of violence.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Monday, May 18, 2026, the State Department sent an emergency notice to Congress saying it will admit up to 17,500 Afrikaners as refugees in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, up from an initially indicated cap of 7,500, mostly Afrikaners.
- The notice says 'unforeseen developments in South Africa created an emergency refugee situation' and cites what it calls escalating anti‑U.S. and anti‑Afrikaner rhetoric from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and other officials.
- The State Department references a December 2025 raid by South African officials on a U.S. refugee processing center as part of the justification for the emergency increase.
- The administration estimates the cost of resettling the additional 10,000 Afrikaner refugees at about $100 million.
- The article recounts that during a May 2025 Oval Office meeting, President Trump showed Ramaphosa a video of a far‑left politician chanting 'kill the farmer' and that Trump has cut off aid to South Africa and boycotted the 2025 G‑20 summit in Johannesburg over the issue.
- Experts in South Africa are cited reiterating there is no evidence of whites being systematically targeted for their race, although farmers of all races face high violence levels.