US Removes 3 South Africans From Refugee Programme Over Alleged Fraud
- Three South Africans have been dropped from a US refugee programme amid allegations tied to their application process
- A fourth South African woman is also facing potential removal linked to her membership in a motorcycle club
- The cases have raised fresh scrutiny over how applicants present information when seeking protection in the US
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US —Three South Africans have reportedly been removed from a United States refugee programme over alleged fraudulent claims, while another woman faces possible removal after questions were raised about her motorcycle club membership.
The cases have drawn attention to the screening process for South Africans seeking protection in the US under a programme introduced by President Donald Trump.
According to reports by News24 and Rapport, US immigration authorities are scrutinising applications in which applicants allegedly provided false information or failed to disclose relevant details.
US refugee applicants face removal
Zach Kaher, a spokesperson for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said people seeking protection in the United States must be honest and comply with all legal requirements.
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Rapport reported that a woman learnt this week that US immigration authorities intended to remove her from the refugee programme. A fourth South African woman is also facing possible consequences after allegedly failing to disclose her membership of a motorcycle club during her refugee application interview.
Son's application brings motorcycle club membership to light
According to Rapport, the issue emerged when the woman's son, who was also applying for refugee status, disclosed that his mother had been a member of the motorcycle club.
The woman reportedly received a letter from immigration authorities this week informing her that they were considering terminating her refugee status.
If she is allowed to remain in the US after losing her status under the programme, she would no longer qualify for grants and support programmes associated with it. She would instead have to apply for asylum.
However, the woman reportedly disputed the allegation that she had failed to disclose her membership. She said she had declared it but was not allowed to elaborate fully during her interview.
The allegations against the woman have not been established as proven misconduct, and the reported review does not necessarily mean that a final decision has been made in her case.
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Trump’s refugee programme under scrutiny
Trump announced the refugee initiative in February 2025, arguing that white Afrikaners faced racial discrimination and persecution in South Africa.
The South African government has rejected claims that white South Africans face genocide or systematic persecution.
US plans campaign to woo Afrikaners
Previously, Briefly News reported that the United States government is weighing a multiphase media and research campaign worth up to $335,000 aimed at encouraging more white Afrikaners to apply for refugee resettlement in the US, after application numbers fell well short of what the Trump administration had anticipated.
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Source: Briefly News
