Departure of Afrikaners Marks Controversial Refugee Program Under Trump
The first white South Africans under Trump’s refugee program left for the U.S. on Sunday, highlighting claims of persecution despite their privileged status post-apartheid. The U.S. aims to admit up to 1,000 Afrikaners this year, contrasting with typical lengthy refugee processes. The initiative has reignited debates surrounding racial dynamics in South Africa.
The first group of white South Africans seeking refuge under a newly established U.S. program initiated by former President Donald Trump departed from Johannesburg on Sunday. A Reuters journalist reported witnessing a queue made up of predominantly white individuals, their airport trolleys laden with luggage, waiting as they prepared to board the specially chartered flight. According to spokesperson Collen Msibi from the South African Transport Ministry, the flight was set to carry 49 passengers, all identified as Afrikaners.
Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority in South Africa, are primarily descendants of Dutch, German, and French settlers. They played a central role in the country’s apartheid regime, marked by severe racial segregation and the oppression of Black South Africans. Msibi confirmed that the chartered flight would land at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C., and proceed to Texas, where some of the passengers have family.
The reasons behind Trump’s decision to provide asylum to these white South Africans stem from claims voiced by himself and advisor Elon Musk regarding alleged persecution faced by Afrikaners from South Africa’s Black majority. Critics point out that despite ongoing claims of persecution, Afrikaners have maintained substantial privileges post-apartheid, controlling around 78% of the nation’s private farmland and possessing wealth approximately twenty times that of their Black counterparts.
In early February, Trump signed an executive order endorsing the immigration of ‘Afrikaner refugees’ who are supposedly grappling with “government-sponsored race-based discrimination,” notably referring to South Africa’s recent land expropriation policies. This law seeks to address the inequities rooted in the apartheid framework, yet Trump perceives it as a potential threat to white-owned agricultural land.
The U.S. State Department noted an influx of inquiries from white South Africans, with reports indicating around 8,000 requests for resettlement. The Trump administration estimates that up to 1,000 Afrikaners could be welcomed into the United States this year. However, the South African Transport Ministry has yet to receive any applications for further resettlement flights following this initial group.
This expedited route to refuge starkly contrasts with the traditional refugee processing, which is often lengthy—sometimes taking years. Notably, the Trump administration’s approach has almost shuttered all other refugee admissions since his presidency began with an executive order designed to halt most refugee inflows altogether.
The recent departure of white South Africans under Trump’s refugee initiative has ignited a mix of reactions around the globe. While supporters claim it addresses persecution, critics highlight the disparities faced by Black South Africans and question the narrative that supports such claims. Ultimately, this program exemplifies a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy, with broad implications for the future of asylum-seekers from various backgrounds.
Original Source: www.dw.com
