The US Embassy in Pretoria has confirmed that it is currently processing and conducting interviews for an unspecified number of Afrikaners who have applied for refugee status in the United States.
US Embassy mum on Afrikaners applying for refugee status in America
This follows US President Donald Trump’s executive order offering a pathway to resettlement for South African Afrikaners citing “unjust racial discrimination.”
In a statement issued to media on Friday, a spokesperson from the US State Department said:
“The US Embassy in Pretoria has been conducting interviews and processing pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa.”
The spokesperson added that while they cannot comment on individual cases, “the Department of State is prioritising consideration for US refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.”
No further details were provided, and the Embassy said there was nothing more to announce at this time.
This development comes in the wake of President Trump’s March 2025 announcement on his social media platform.
In his statement, Trump claimed that Afrikaner farmers in South Africa were facing persecution, referencing land seizures and safety concerns.
“Any farmer fleeing South Africa for reasons of safety can apply for US citizenship instead of refugee status,” Trump said, referring to the South African government’s land reform programme.
The reform, driven by the Expropriation Act, allows land to be taken without compensation in specific cases.
While the South African government insists the process will be legal and fair, critics such as Trump and AfriForum, a local civil rights group, have labelled it as targeted discrimination.
AfriForum has lobbied US lawmakers in Washington, DC, arguing that Afrikaners are facing marginalisation in South Africa.
They cite examples like the Expropriation Act and changes to language education policy as threats to their rights. The group has also highlighted violent crimes on farms and what it calls “anti-Afrikaner rhetoric” as reasons for concern.
The South African government has strongly pushed back. Officials maintain that the Expropriation Act does not target any racial group and that land reform is being handled within the bounds of the law.
“There is no formal diplomatic communication from Washington on this matter,” a government spokesperson said, insisting that relations with the US should be based on “mutual respect.”
Trump’s remarks have already sparked political and economic tensions, with some reports suggesting a suspension of certain US aid to South Africa.
Additionally, the country’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a key trade agreement, is now under fresh scrutiny.
For now, while the US Embassy has confirmed processing is underway, it remains unclear how many applications have been received or how many will be approved.
