US Welcomes First Group of White South African Refugees

A group of 49 White South Africans, primarily Afrikaner families, have departed Johannesburg for the US after being granted refugee status under a controversial Trump-era directive. Citing claims of racial discrimination and land seizures, the Trump administration fast-tracked their relocation—an unusual move compared to the typically lengthy refugee process. The initiative has drawn sharp criticism from the South African government, which called it politically motivated and denied any accusation of state-sanctioned discrimination. The US plans to welcome the group in Washington before resettling them in Texas. This move comes amid worsening US-South Africa relations and raises questions about selective refugee policies, especially as the Trump administration continues to block refugees from other regions.