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The Trump administration is preparing to resettle the first group of white South Africans in the United States under the federal refugee programme, potentially as soon as next week, according to three sources familiar with the plans. The move marks a controversial exception to the administration’s broader freeze on refugee admissions from other parts of the world.
About 50 Afrikaners—white South Africans descended largely from Dutch settlers—are expected to arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, the sources said. A press event is reportedly planned before the group departs for various destinations across the U.S.
However, officials warned that the timeline could change. As of Thursday, a charter plane scheduled to transport the group had not received a landing permit.
The U.S. State Department, which oversees refugee resettlement, did not immediately comment. NPR first reported the projected timing of the arrivals.
President Trump has pushed for stricter immigration controls since taking office in 2017, including a sweeping halt to refugee admissions. However, in February, he urged that priority be given to Afrikaners, describing them as victims of “unjust racial discrimination”—a claim that aligns with narratives often circulated in far-right groups and echoed by Trump ally Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa.
While the Trump administration claims the group faces persecution due to land disputes, crime, and racial bias, South Africa’s government has denounced the effort. In a statement, the foreign affairs ministry said the U.S. programme misrepresents South Africa’s democratic constitution and ignores its colonial and apartheid history.
“It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being ‘refugees’ is entirely politically motivated,” the statement said.
Despite the controversy, White House adviser Stephen Miller defended the initiative, saying the situation meets the criteria for race-based persecution.
Though some Afrikaners reportedly plan to move to conservative-leaning states such as Alabama and Idaho, others have expressed interest in Minnesota, a Democratic-leaning state known for welcoming diverse refugee populations.
It is unclear why a chartered plane is being used instead of commercial flights, which would be less expensive. Sources noted that this has added further uncertainty to the plan.
