On May 11, 2025, a U.S.-funded flight took off from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, carrying a group of Afrikaners seeking refuge in the United States. This flight marks a notable moment as the Trump administration, which has largely restricted refugee admissions from conflict-ridden regions like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically fast-tracked refugee status for this white ethnic minority.
The Afrikaners have reported facing job discrimination and violence due to their race, prompting their flight to the U.S. Men, women, and children were seen with luggage, but they were instructed by U.S. Embassy personnel not to speak to reporters as they prepared for their significant journey.
The expedited refugee process for this group comes just three months after President Trump signed an executive order that allows Afrikaners to gain U.S. residency, in stark contrast to the elongated refugee claims typically experienced by asylum seekers from lesser-known war-torn areas. Despite the contentious background of the Afrikaners, who were at the helm during South Africa's apartheid regime, this development reflects the complex dynamics of immigration policy under the Trump administration.
The Afrikaners have reported facing job discrimination and violence due to their race, prompting their flight to the U.S. Men, women, and children were seen with luggage, but they were instructed by U.S. Embassy personnel not to speak to reporters as they prepared for their significant journey.
The expedited refugee process for this group comes just three months after President Trump signed an executive order that allows Afrikaners to gain U.S. residency, in stark contrast to the elongated refugee claims typically experienced by asylum seekers from lesser-known war-torn areas. Despite the contentious background of the Afrikaners, who were at the helm during South Africa's apartheid regime, this development reflects the complex dynamics of immigration policy under the Trump administration.
