United States to spend R8 billion to resettle 17,500 Afrikaners and other minorities from South Africa as refugees

CBS News reported that the Trump administration is planning to welcome 17,500 additional Afrikaners from South Africa as refugees over the next 12 months.

It cited a notice sent to Congress on Tuesday, 23 September 2026, which said that the 17,500 refugee spots for the 2027 fiscal year will primarily go to Afrikaners.

The United States’ report on Refugee Arrivals by State and Nationality from 1 October 2025 to 31 August 2026 showed that most arrivals were South Africans.

Over this period, 12,904 refugees arrived in the United States, of which only 3 came from Afghanistan. The rest were all South African.

The U.S. refugee resettlement program is not only for people who are of Afrikaner ethnicity, although they constitute most arrivals.

It is also open to members of a racial minority in South Africa who are victims of government-sponsored race-based discrimination.

The State Department said in its notice to Congress that Afrikaners face the seizure of agricultural property without compensation.

It added that there are government policies designed to dismantle equal opportunity in employment, education, and business.

There is also hateful rhetoric fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored minorities.

The notice added that the Afrikaner resettlement effort will cost the U.S. government $500 million, equating to R8.1 billion.

The Trump Administration expects Afrikaners from South Africa to fully assimilate into the United States while preserving taxpayer resources.

Simply put, they expect Afrikaners to become productive members and taxpayers of the United States.

It added in its notice to Congress that it does not anticipate other countries resettling Afrikaners.

Sanctions against South Africa

Last week, the United States announced a new visa restriction policy against people who are involved in race-based discrimination in South Africa.

The policy also targets individuals involved in inciting imminent violence and uncompensated land seizures in the country.

On 15 September 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States remained gravely concerned about racially motivated crime in South Africa.

They are equally concerned about government-sponsored discrimination occurring against the Afrikaners and other minority populations in South Africa.

This includes race-based discriminatory legislation, threats of land expropriation without compensation, and incitement of racial violence through chants and slogans.

“The South African government has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns,” Rubio said.

“So today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals who are responsible for or complicit in,

• The enactment or implementation of laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures.
• Race-based discrimination.
• The incitement of imminent violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.

The Secretary of State said that the United States will not allow such behaviour to go unchecked.

“These actions directly undermine peace, economic stability, and the rule of law, and they are incompatible with the pillars of America’s foreign policy,” he said.

“We once again strongly urge the South African government to quickly address these egregious actions.”

This visa restriction policy is pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

It authorises the Secretary of State to render inadmissible any person whose entry into the United States could have adverse foreign policy consequences for the country.

Certain family members of those responsible for these acts may also be subject to these restrictions.