US Refugee Programme Admitted Only White South Africans in 2026, Latest Data Shows

• The United States of America has increased its refugee programme admission numbers to allow in more South Africans
• The special refugee programme was set up by Donald Trump to prioritise white South Africans, who he claims were targeted
• The latest data from the State Department’s Bureau of Population shows that only South Africans are being accepted into the US

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States of America continues to welcome South African refugees, with the latest stats showing that only White South Africans were accepted into the country in May 2026.

According to data from the State Department’s Bureau of Population, 599 White South Africans were admitted into the US in May as part of the refugee programme.

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In February 2025, Donald Trump initiated a special refugee programme for White South Africans, claiming that terrible things were happening in the country. He alleged that a white genocide was taking place, saying that Afrikaners were being killed, and their lands taken away.

Only White South Africans accepted in 2026

According to the data, every refugee admitted to the US in 2026 was a White South African. In fact, since 1 October 2025, of the 6,668 refugees accepted into the US, only three were not South African. The three individuals were from Afghanistan and were accepted in November 2025.

The Trump administration has also slashed the number of refugees admitted every year. Under Joe Biden, the US welcomed 12,500 people per year, but now only 7,500 are accepted annually.

In May, the US increased this number by 10,000, saying that there were ‘unforeseen developments’ and an ‘emergency refugee situation’ due to incitement of violence against Afrikaners in South Africa.

South Africans residing in US states as of April 2026

Since October 2025 and April 2026, 6,066 South African nationals have settled in various states across the US. The following table shows exactly where they are based.

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What you need to know about claims made against South Africa

• The FW De Klerk Foundation has rubbished Donald Trump's claims about racial discrimination.
• Donald Trump deleted a tweet claiming that South Africa was a dangerous place.
• The US State Department has explained why it is unhappy with South Africa at the moment.
• The US President offered citizenship to farmers and their families if they don’t feel safe in South Africa.
• Elon Musk claimed on X that the media weren’t reporting on the genocide in South Africa.
• Trump claimed that South Africa had a policy of exterminating people, which is why he would not attend the G20.

Trump doubles down on white genocide in South Africa claims

Briefly News also reported that Trump maintained that there’s a white genocide taking place in South Africa, insisting that it needs to be stopped.

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The President of the United States has previously falsely stated that a section of the population was being persecuted in the country.

He even offered South Africans refuge in the US if they felt that they were being persecuted in the country.

Source: Briefly News