Trump plans record-low refugee cap, prioritizing white South Africans

It is noted that Trump’s administration plans to reduce refugee admissions to a record low next year, reserving the majority of limited slots for white Afrikaners from South Africa and other individuals supposedly facing "unjust discrimination."

It is expected that President Trump will lower the upper limit for refugee admissions to 7,500 people, a sharp reduction compared to the 125,000-person cap set by former President Joe Biden’s administration last year.

The new limit would effectively close the door to thousands of families waiting in camps around the world. It would redirect a program designed to provide shelter to those fleeing war and famine toward supporting predominantly white South Africans.

A White House representative, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss unannounced refugee program plans, stated that the restriction on refugee admissions will only become final after the administration consults with Congress, as required by law each year.

The representative said that the government shutdown is preventing these consultations and claimed that no refugees will be admitted into the country in the fiscal year that began on October 1 until Democrats and Republicans reach an agreement on government funding.

Democrats in Congress stated this week that Trump has already missed the deadline and urged him to consult with them.

"Despite repeated outreach from Democratic and Republican committee staff, the Trump administration has completely discarded its legal obligation, leaving Congress in the dark and refugees in limbo," said Representatives Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Pramila Jayapal of Washington, along with Senators Richard Durbin of Illinois and Alex Padilla of California, in a joint statement.

Trump has taken steps to effectively shut down the refugee program by signing an executive order on the first day of his second term, suspending the resettlement of most refugees.

He also effectively stripped migrants at the US-Mexico border of the opportunity to seek protection under another program known as "asylum," as part of broader efforts to restrict immigration to the United States.

It is worth recalling that earlier this year, during a meeting at the White House, US President Donald Trump showed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa a video that, according to Trump, depicts a "genocide of white farmers."

Shortly before that, Trump had accused the Republic of South Africa of "genocide" and land confiscation.