The first group of South African minorities seeking asylum under a new U.S. policy has landed in America. In a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in South Africa, the Trump administration confirmed that its offer of asylum is now officially extended to all South African minorities who have experienced or fear future persecution.
The U.S. State Department, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, is working with partners to assess eligibility for refugee resettlement. According to the embassy, the initiative is targeted at “Afrikaners and disfavored minorities in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.”
[ SNL Property Launches Advisory Board To Strengthen Leadership And Drive Innovation ]
To be considered for resettlement, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be a South African national
Belong to the Afrikaner ethnic group or another racial minority
Be able to articulate a past experience of persecution or credible fear of future persecution
Eligible individuals are required to complete and submit a “statement of interest” form, even if prior communication with the U.S. government has occurred. Due to high demand, the embassy warns responses may take time.
How the Asylum Process Works for South African Applicants
The statement of interest form is the gateway to resettlement consideration. It requests detailed personal information, including:
Current residence and passport status
Number of dependents
Earliest date available to travel
Basis for refugee claim (e.g., persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or group membership)
Applicants are also asked to explain their circumstances, citing experiences or fears of persecution in South Africa. Submission of this form is voluntary, but failure to do so may result in exclusion from the program.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department emphasized the ongoing review of applications. “The U.S. embassy in Pretoria has been conducting interviews and processing pursuant to President Trump’s executive order on addressing egregious actions of the Republic of South Africa,” the spokesperson said.
“We continue to review inquiries from individuals… The Department of State is prioritizing consideration for U.S. refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.”
Critics Question Policy as Legal Battles Over Refugee Admissions Continue
While the new policy has been welcomed by some, it has also sparked legal and political backlash. President Trump’s initial executive order upon taking office in January froze all refugee resettlement, stranding an estimated 12,000 approved refugees with booked flights.
Although South African applicants are not being processed under the suspended Reception and Placement Program, they are reportedly eligible for limited integration support through the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
This selective reopening of refugee channels has prompted criticism from advocacy groups.
Rick Santos, president and CEO of Church World Service, expressed concern: “We are concerned that the U.S. government has chosen to fast-track the admission of Afrikaners, while actively fighting court orders to provide life-saving resettlement to other refugee populations who are in desperate need.”
A supervising attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project echoed the sentiment in a statement to the New York Times: “The rapid processing of Afrikaners flies in the face of the government’s claims that they aren’t able to process already approved refugees, even after multiple courts ordered them to do so immediately.”
Catch up with the latest news from The Times Post on WhatsApp by following our channel. Click here to join.
Kindly follow @thetimespost on Instagram. On X (Twitter), follow @thetimespost2.
