Trump administration favors white refugees from South Africa, sidelines tens of thousands of applicants

Data published by Axios reveals that the Trump administration admitted 16,292 refugees in 2026, the vast majority of them white South Africans, compared to just five from Afghanistan, in a policy the article describes as reflecting clear discrimination.

Data published by the American news network Axios reveals that the Trump administration admitted 16,292 refugees during the year 2026, the vast majority of them white South Africans. According to official data, 16,287 of the arriving refugees were from South Africa, compared to just five from Afghanistan. The administration raised the refugee cap from 7,500 to 17,500, allocating the quota primarily to Africans. The administration justifies this policy with claims about violence and persecution against white people in South Africa, while the 'white genocide' allegations promoted by Trump have drawn widespread criticism, as a South African court and independent researchers say no such genocide exists. This policy comes despite more than 100,000 people having passed U.S. vetting procedures and awaiting resettlement, according to the International Rescue Committee. Despite the raised cap, numbers remained far below previous levels; the United States admitted about 100,000 refugees in 2024 under the Biden administration, compared to 16,292 in the final year. The article describes the policy as reflecting clear discrimination.