The Trump administration has announced plans to limit the refugee inflow for the 2027 fiscal year to 17,500 individuals, a significant decrease from the 125,000 target established by President Joe Biden. This decision was communicated to Congress in a notice sent on Tuesday, ahead of the fiscal year beginning in October. The notice specifies that admissions will primarily consist of Afrikaners from South Africa, referring to the Afrikaans-speaking white minority with Dutch and French ancestry.
The Biden administration set the 125,000 target during his final year in office. Historically, the long-run average for refugee admissions has been approximately 92,000 per year since the program's inception in 1980. During Trump's first term, the cap was reduced to a low of 15,000.
Last year, the administration initially set the ceiling at 7,500 but later increased it to 17,500, citing unforeseen developments in South Africa as a reason for the emergency. The current cap will remain at this level for the upcoming year.
The notice outlines that Afrikaners are facing land seizures without compensation, job displacement, and violence against them. It also states that the arrivals will assimilate in a manner that conserves taxpayer resources for U.S. citizens.
The projected cost of the refugee program is estimated at $500 million. This program facilitates the transport of selected migrants from designated countries and provides them with federal assistance for several years. Once in the U.S., refugees are eligible for various welfare programs that contribute to local economies through rent payments and consumer spending.
However, applicants from Afghanistan, Sudan, the Republic of Congo, and Myanmar have been excluded since the program was reopened for Afrikaners. Pro-migration organizations have criticized the decision, with Naomi Steinberg from HIAS stating that the administration is undermining a longstanding legacy for political reasons.
In related news, Marco Rubio's State Department recently imposed visa restrictions on South African officials due to issues surrounding land seizures and race-based discrimination. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola contended that these actions reflect a misrepresentation propagated by fringe groups, while President Cyril Ramaphosa's office defended the country's right to rectify historical racial injustices.
U.S. Ambassador Brent Bozell indicated that the visa policy represents an initial step in a broader strategy of escalating measures.