“No One Owes You Anything”: Reasons Some Afrikaners Are Failing To Secure Refugee Status in the US

• Several Afrikaner South Africans have had their refugee applications for the US programme denied
• It was revealed that the main reason for denials is that some applicants are living outside South Africa
• Other reasons include criminal convictions for serious crimes and inappropriate comments that make applicants unsuitable
• Briefly News reached out to US intelligence analyst Chris Wyatt for comment, but did not receive a response before publication

Some Afrikaner South Africans who applied for the US refugee resettlement programme have had their applications turned down. While many people from minority groups have been approved, not everyone who applied made it through the process.

In 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that up to 7,500 people from racial minority groups would be accepted in the next intake. So far, more than 1,000 applicants, including Black South Africans, have reportedly been successful. However, a number of Afrikaner applicants were declined.

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US intelligence analyst Chris Wyatt explained that one of the main reasons is that some applicants are no longer living in South Africa. He said the programme is meant for people who are still in the country and currently facing discrimination or danger. According to him, if someone has already left and is no longer dealing with that situation, they no longer qualify. He described the programme as a form of protection for people whose lives are at risk right now, not something anyone is automatically entitled to.

Wyatt also said some applications may have been rejected because of issues found during background checks. This can include serious criminal records or behaviour that raises concerns during the vetting process. He explained that character plays an important role when refugee applications are reviewed.

For those who are declined, there’s no formal appeal process. Applicants can ask for a review within 90 days, but only if they can show that a real mistake was made or if they have new information that wasn’t available before. If that review is also denied, the decision is final.

What are the USRAP eligibility requirements?

According to the US Embassy, only certain South Africans qualify for this refugee programme. Applicants must be South African citizens, belong to the Afrikaner community or another racial minority, and be living in South Africa. They also need to explain a real experience of persecution, or a genuine fear of future persecution.

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Applicants must be 18 or older, or applying with a parent. All applications are reviewed by US officials after the USRAP questionnaire is filled out, and not everyone will be accepted.

Mixed reactions to refugee denials

Mzansi shared their thoughts on the refugee application denials:

@nelson_cyril_griffiths wrote:

"Interestingly, major Afrikaner organisations, including AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement, have publicly said they do not want to be refugees, choosing instead to stay in South Africa."

@morne_coetzee said:

"We don't need refugee status... We have been going to USA for years to go do seasonal work... thisis just a group that started something... We are not part of them."

@neo_malapane added:

"His agenda is to be the number 1 farming country in the world."

@rose_moncho joked:

"Even those who are not on the South African 🇿🇦 soil were applying? My goodness, does Elon know about this?! 🤣🤣🤣"

More about Afrikaners as US refugees

• Briefly News recently reported on a South African in the United States who spent over three months behind bars after he violated the country's immigration laws.
• A woman's reaction to an Afrikaner wanting to return to South Africa reignited debate around refugee claims and motivations.
• The United States started accepting not only Afrikaners but also applicants of other races as refugees.

Source: Briefly News