The Trump administration is proposing to raise the refugee admissions cap to 17,500 for fiscal year 2026 white south Africans, according to an emergency decision sent to Congress and obtained by CNN.
Last year, the administration limited the number of refugees allowed to enter the country to 7,500 annually Focus on white South AfricansThat reduces last year's limit of 125,000 and excludes some of the world's most vulnerable populations.
President Donald Trump has justified the administration's decision to resettle Africans to the US by citing claims that “genocide is taking place” in South Africa. Saying That “white farmers are being brutally killed and their lands confiscated.”
South African authorities have strongly denied such claims. CNN has investigated Claims of white “genocide” in South Africa and no evidence found To support them.
The emergency decision cited comments by the South African president and an incident last year when the South African government interrogated US personnel deployed to the country.
“This growing hostility increases the danger to Africans in South Africa, who are already victims of far-reaching government-sponsored race-based discrimination,” the report said. “For these reasons, the revised limit of 17,500 is justified by the serious humanitarian concerns and national interest described in EO 14204 and will further the U.S. foreign policy interests described in that order.”
CNN contacted the White House and State Department for comment.
Under US law, the administration must consult Congress on the annual refugee limit.