The Trump administration has announced a significant reduction in the number of refugees admitted to the United States, capping the figure at 7,500 for the upcoming fiscal year. This marks a sharp decline from the previous limit of 125,000 set by former President Joe Biden. The new policy, detailed in a notice published on Thursday, prioritizes white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, and other individuals facing ‘illegal or unjust discrimination’ in their home countries. No specific rationale was provided for the drastic cut, though the notice cited ‘humanitarian concerns’ and ‘national interest’ as justifications. In January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order suspending the US Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP), asserting that the move would enable authorities to focus on national security and public safety. The decision has drawn criticism from refugee advocacy groups, who argue that it unfairly excludes other persecuted groups and undermines the US’s moral standing. During a tense Oval Office meeting in May, Trump criticized South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, claiming that white farmers in South Africa were being ‘persecuted’ and killed. The White House also presented a video purportedly showing burial sites for murdered white farmers, though it later emerged that the footage was from a 2020 protest. The US policy has sparked accusations of bias and raised concerns about the exclusion of other vulnerable populations, including former allies who assisted US forces in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Global Refuge CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah condemned the decision, stating that it ‘lowers our moral standing’ and undermines the credibility of the refugee program. The South African government has yet to respond to the announcement.