First group of white South Africans arrive in the US under Trump's refugee program

A group of 49 white South Africans, who were granted refugee status during the administration of President Donald Trump, is about to arrive in the United States after a flight from Johannesburg. Their arrival sets the backdrop of a long-standing rift between the US and South Africa, including matters stemming from Trump's allegations that so-called racial discrimination against Afrikaners was taking place in South Africa.

The US government has condemned South Africa's land reform policies, claiming that white farmers were unlawfully dispossessed of their land without compensation. South African officials, however, have categorically denied this claim. Afrikaners, back by the Trump administration, are being afforded refugee resettlement in the backdrop of the other political disagreements and issues concerning race and land in both countries.

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Afrikaners will arrive to the US under Trump's refugee program

The 49 South Africans will be arriving at Dulles Airport on Monday, May 12. The Afrikaners, descendants of mainly Dutch colonist, were seen at Johannesburg Airport with trolleys full of suitcases.

According to a report made by NPR, there will be a refugee services office of the Catholic diocese of Virginia to offer assistance. After the press conference, the families will depart for their end destinations in several states including Minnesota, Nevada, and Idaho.

The South Africans will now have a pathway to U.S. citizenship and be eligible for government benefits.

As mentioned by NPR, a document made by Trump's administration, included guidance for the South Africans arriving. American family members of Afrikaners granted refugee status would be asked to help them. Those who didn't have family in the country would be "placed in a location that has a local organization to provide you with support," it said.

"Your case manager will pick you up from the airport and take you to housing that they have arranged for you. This housing may be temporary (like a hotel) while a local organization helps you identify more long-term housing," it said.

South Africa condemns Trump's statement of "racial discrimination"

Tensions between South Africa and the United States have escalated since President Trump signed an executive order in February stating Afrikaners were "victims of the racial discrimination."

However, South Africa's foreign minister, Ronald Lamoa, rejected the claims on Monday and stated that there is no persecution of white Afrikaner South Africans and referred to police evidence that disproved Trump's claims.

The US has condemned South Africa's domestic policies and claimed that the government is expropriating land from the white farmers without compensation (a claim that South Africa rejects).

President Trump has also stated that Land in Africa involves "large-scale killing of farmers," a claim that has been widely disputed. Elon Musk, an adviser to Trump, also previously made claims about a "genocide of white people" in South Africa and complained about the government's discriminatory ownership laws, but these genocide claims have been widely discredited.

Crime statistics made by South African Police indicated that 44 murders occurred on farms and agricultural land in 2024, with eight victims being farmers. While the country does not publish crime statistics by race, it is recognized that most farmers are white and that farmworkers are predominantly black.