US flies 59 South African Afrikaner refugees on $400K charter flight

The Trump administration arranged a Boeing 767‑300 charter to transport 59 South African "white refugees" – identified as Afrikaners – from Johannesburg to Washington, D.C. on July 13, 2026. The flight’s direct cost was estimated at more than $400,000, not including positioning, landing, crew, catering and other government fees.

During the 2025‑26 fiscal year, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program admitted 7,727 refugees from South Africa and only three from Afghanistan, reflecting an unprecedented focus on Afrikaner applicants. The program was linked to an executive order signed by President Trump in February 2025 that cut U.S. aid to South Africa and offered refuge to Afrikaners claiming racial persecution. South African officials contested the premise of the order, citing historical context. Critics say the scheme reshaped U.S. refugee policy, sparked diplomatic friction, and raised questions about the use of taxpayer funds for a narrowly defined refugee group.