In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has announced a drastic reduction in the number of refugees admitted annually into the United States, capping the figure at 7,500 for the 2026 fiscal year. This marks a sharp decline from the previous ceiling of 125,000 set under President Joe Biden. The announcement, published in the Federal Registry on Thursday, did not provide a specific rationale for the decision but stated that the admission of these refugees is “justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.” Notably, the majority of these refugees are expected to be white South Africans, a group the administration has previously cited as facing discrimination and violence in their home country—a claim strongly denied by the South African government. The move represents a continuation of the administration’s restrictive stance on refugee admissions, which began with the suspension of the program on Trump’s first day in office. Since then, only a limited number of refugees, predominantly white South Africans, have been admitted, with some entering as part of ongoing legal proceedings. The reduced cap has had a significant impact on organizations dedicated to refugee resettlement, many of which have been forced to downsize due to the plummeting number of arrivals. This policy shift has drawn criticism from various quarters, as it marks a departure from the bipartisan support the refugee program has historically enjoyed.
Trump sets 7,500 annual limit for refugees entering US. It’ll be mostly white South Africans
