First Set of Afrikaner Refugees Arrives U.S.
A group of 49 white South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, landed at Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday, marking the first wave of refugees resettled under a controversial U.S. executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February 2025. The order prioritizes refugee status for Afrikaners, citing “government-sponsored race-based discrimination” in South Africa, particularly referencing the country’s Expropriation Act 13 of 2024. The move has sparked intense debate in both nations, with critics calling it politically motivated and supporters arguing it addresses legitimate grievances of a minority group.
The Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch and French settlers who arrived in South Africa in the 17th century, boarded a U.S.-funded charter flight from Johannesburg’s O.R...