Trump administration explores higher refugee limit for white South Africans

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a further expansion of its refugee admissions framework, with internal discussions focusing on increasing the number of white South Africans eligible for resettlement in the United States, according to people familiar with the matter.

• The Trump administration is considering expanding its refugee admissions framework to allow more white South Africans to resettle in the U.S.
• There are internal discussions about raising the annual refugee cap by 10,000, in addition to the current 7,500 limit.
• The program prioritizes Afrikaners and was established after Trump paused most global refugee admissions in January 2025.
• As of January 2026, only around 2,000 white South Africans had entered the U.S. under this program, but processing is accelerating.

In recent weeks, U.S. officials have discussed expanding the current 7,500-person refugee cap by an additional 10,000 slots, according to people familiar with internal planning, Reuters reported.

The proposal is part of wider deliberations over scaling admissions for white South Africans under the existing programme.

The latest discussions build on a series of policy decisions made earlier this year.

The programme, which prioritises Afrikaners—a white ethnic minority in South Africa—was introduced after Trump paused refugee admissions from around the world upon taking office in January 2025.

In January 2026, the Trump administration and South African officials reportedly reached a private understanding to allow a controversial refugee programme for white South Africans to continue, according to an internal meeting summary reviewed by Reuters.

That was followed in February by a formal cap announcement setting total U.S. refugee admissions at 7,500 for fiscal year 2026.

Internal planning at the time also suggested a monthly intake target for white South Africans that could reach 4,500, alongside broader scenario modelling that explored overall ceilings ranging between 40,000 and 60,000 refugees.

Expanding limits amid policy recalibration

The refugee admissions system, formally established in 1980, has traditionally served as a humanitarian pathway for people fleeing conflict and persecution globally.

However, the current policy direction marks a significant departure, with a concentrated focus on white South African applicants under a narrowed framework.

As of January 31, 2026, only about 2,000 white South Africans had entered the United States under the programme launched in May 2025, though processing rates have reportedly increased in recent months.

Speaking at a policy event, Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Veprek said an expansion of the cap was under consideration, noting that officials were assessing “the pace of resettlement” and whether the ceiling needed adjustment, without providing further details.

The debate is unfolding against South Africa’s post-apartheid demographic reality, where Black South Africans make up the overwhelming majority of the population, while white South Africans account for about 7%, according to 2022 census data.

The potential expansion of refugee intake is expected to remain politically sensitive, intersecting with diplomatic tensions, humanitarian policy debates, and broader questions about how refugee priorities are defined and implemented in the United States.