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The United States is aiming to process up to 4,500 refugee applications per month from white South Africans, according to a January 27 U.S. State Department contracting document. The ambitious target significantly exceeds President Donald Trump’s stated refugee admissions cap of 7,500 total refugees worldwide for fiscal year 2026, raising questions about how the plan aligns with broader U.S. immigration policy.
The internal document signals a renewed push to accelerate refugee admissions from South Africa, even as refugee applications from other regions have been sharply reduced. As of January 31, approximately 2,000 white South Africans had entered the U.S. under a refugee program launched in May 2025. Admissions increased in recent months, with around 1,500 arrivals recorded in December and January, compared to roughly 500 in the prior six and a half months.
To support the expanded refugee processing effort, the U.S. government awarded a $772,000 no-bid contract to a South African company to install 14 prefabricated modular buildings on embassy property in Pretoria. The temporary site was deemed necessary after South African authorities raided a previous refugee processing location in Johannesburg, citing visa violations. U.S. officials described the move as urgent to meet a “Presidential priority.”
Despite the ramp-up, administrative delays remain a hurdle. All refugee travel to the U.S., including for white South Africans, was temporarily paused from February 23 to March 9 due to operational factors. Because of Trump’s broader refugee admissions suspension introduced in January 2025, each South African case requires individual approval from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, creating a backlog.
The South African government has rejected claims that Afrikaners face systemic persecution, while refugee advocates have criticized the selective policy. Nevertheless, interest remains high, with more than 67,000 individuals reportedly expressing interest in relocating to the United States under the refugee program.
