A group of 49 white South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, is set to arrive at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 12, 2025. This marks the first wave of refugees to be resettled under a controversial U.S. program announced by former President Donald Trump earlier this year.
The program offers refugee status to Afrikaners who claim to be victims of racial discrimination in South Africa, citing concerns over affirmative action policies and land expropriation laws. Critics, including the South African government, have rejected these claims, arguing that Afrikaners remain among the country’s most privileged groups.
The refugees, which include families with young children, boarded a private charter flight from Johannesburg and will be welcomed at Dulles Airport by U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security officials. They are expected to be resettled in various U.S. states, including Alabama, California, and New York.
The policy has drawn significant criticism from refugee advocates and international observers, who argue that it unfairly prioritizes white South Africans over refugees fleeing conflict and persecution from other parts of the world. In defense, the Trump administration has stated that the program addresses “race-based persecution” and aligns with the original purpose of the U.S. refugee system.
This initiative marks a significant moment in U.S. immigration policy, and its full impact on both the refugees and American communities will unfold in the coming weeks.
