Afrikaners Depart South Africa as Refugees Amid U.S. Policy Shift

Dozens of Afrikaners, claiming discrimination in South Africa, boarded a U.S.-funded flight to escape challenges in their homeland under a new refugee policy initiated by the Trump administration.

A U.S.-chartered flight departed Johannesburg on Sunday, carrying dozens of white South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, who assert they have experienced discrimination and violence at home due to their race. Their journey to the United States marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration and refugee policy, specifically facilitated by the Trump administration, which has frequently been criticized for its stringent stance on refugees from war-torn nations such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These Afrikaners, who were part of a group that appealed to the U.S. for refuge, faced adversity in South Africa, claiming they have been targeted socially and economically. This decision to expedite their refugee status is particularly notable considering the broader national narrative, which has focused on limiting admissions of asylum seekers from crisis regions.

The administration has offered support for this cohort within three months of the executive order that authorized their refugee status—a highly unusual speed for refugee resettlement processes that typically take years. Families gathered at O.R. Tambo International Airport, some with children and heavy luggage, adhered to instructions from the U.S. Embassy that prohibited their interaction with media, leaving their experiences unspoken.

Despite their difficult circumstances, the departure symbolizes a complex narrative on race, privilege, and political decisions within U.S. refugee policy. As they begin this new chapter, the implications of this refugee status for both Afrikaners and other marginalized groups within South Africa will likely continue to unfold, hubbed around the transformative and controversial immigration policies in the United States.