US expands refugee admissions for South African Afrikaners

The Trump administration signed an executive order raising the United States’ refugee cap for South African Afrikaners to 17,500, citing an “unforeseen emergency” linked to increased racially‑motivated violence in South Africa. The order builds on a prior determination that had allowed 10,000 Afrikaner refugees, adding an additional 7,500 places for the fiscal year.

Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chair of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, welcomed the decision but urged a broader refugee policy. He warned that the current focus on Afrikaners leaves many other vulnerable people – especially those persecuted for their faith – in limbo, noting that over 100,000 individuals from various countries remain with conditional approvals awaiting resettlement. Cahill called for the United States to uphold its founding principle of offering refuge to all persecuted peoples.

The policy shift comes after the US suspended its refugee admissions program in January 2025, limiting annual admissions to 7,500 for FY 2026. The new cap represents a significant, though narrowly targeted, increase in refugee intake.