US to Resettle White South Africans Next Week

The Trump administration is preparing to resettle the first group of white South Africans in the U.S. as early as next week, according to multiple media reports. The move follows President Donald Trump’s sharp criticism of South Africa’s land reform policies, which he claims unfairly target white Afrikaner farmers.

First Wave of Arrivals Expected Monday

Fifty-four Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch colonists—have been granted refugee status and are expected to arrive in the U.S. on Monday, May 12, according to three government sources familiar with the matter who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity. Officials are arranging a charter flight to Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C., though the final landing location remains uncertain.

The resettlement plan, first reported by The Lever, cites an April 30 memo indicating that arrivals were imminent. The initiative, signed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Refugee Resettlement chief Andrew Gradison, outlines plans to admit up to 1,000 Afrikaners this year. Emergency refugee aid funds will be allocated to support them.

A press conference is expected upon their arrival, with high-ranking officials from the State Department and Homeland Security in attendance. The refugees will then be relocated to several states, including Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, among others. Many have existing family ties in the U.S.

Unusual Speed and Priority in Processing

The Afrikaners have been granted P1 refugee status, typically reserved for individuals referred due to urgent humanitarian needs. Sources noted the unusually rapid processing of their applications, as well as the rare involvement of U.S. dignitaries in welcoming refugees.

The resettlement follows a February executive order by Trump directing the U.S. to prioritize Afrikaners fleeing what he called "unjust racial discrimination" in South Africa. The order also cut aid to the country. Trump, along with allies like South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has repeatedly alleged that white farmers face persecution under South Africa’s land reform laws.

South Africa’s government has denied these claims, stating that its land reform bill—which allows expropriation without compensation in rare cases—does not target any racial group. The Department of International Relations criticized Trump’s order, calling it "ironic" given the economic privilege many Afrikaners still hold in South Africa.

The U.N.’s International Organization for Migration declined to participate in the resettlement process, NPR reported. Meanwhile, Trump has defended stricter refugee policies overall, stating that the U.S. must prioritize its resources for Americans.