South Africa has deported seven Kenyan nationals after authorities found them working illegally at facilities processing Afrikaner (White South African) “refugees” for resettlement in the United States. The workers were linked to Church World Service, a contractor for the US government, but were operating on tourist visas, violating immigration rules. The raid comes amid heightened scrutiny of a controversial US-backed refugee program championed by President Donald Trump, who claims that Afrikaners face racial persecution. South Africa had rejected work visas for these Kenyan staffers, stating that they were ineligible. This crackdown directly disrupts American efforts to interview and resettle hundreds of applicants by year’s end. The episode underscores the growing strain in US–South Africa relations and raises questions about how refugee programs are being implemented on the ground.
The African Report
