he Trump administration has continued to admit an undisclosed number of white Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, despite a near-total suspension of the U.S. refugee program that has left thousands stranded worldwide. The controversial program, which began with 59 Afrikaners arriving at Dulles International Airport on May 12, has expanded with additional arrivals in late May and June while all other refugee admissions remain frozen.

Last month’s initial group was greeted by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau with a press conference at Dulles. On May 30, another group landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with little public attention. Foreign media reported nine additional arrivals that day, with more expected through commercial flights.

The Episcopal Church announced it would terminate its partnership with the government to resettle refugees, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners. “Our commitment to racial justice and reconciliation prevents us from participating,” said Presiding Bishop Sean W. Rowe in a letter to church members.

The State Department declined to provide specific figures on total arrivals. “As a matter of policy, we cannot comment on individual cases or internal refugee processing operations,” a spokesperson said. The Refugee Processing Center has not updated its database since December, leaving the exact number of Afrikaner admissions unclear.

President Trump paused the refugee program on his first day in office in January 2025, allowing only Afrikaners to enter as refugees. The move comes despite approximately 100,000 refugees being resettled in 2024 under the Biden administration, marking a record-low year for the program under Trump.

Other faith-based agencies have also withdrawn from government-supported resettlement. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services—the largest refugee resettlement agency in the world—said it was ending its century-old program because of the “drastic” government cuts.

Three agencies sued the administration in April, securing a court ruling to resume admissions for 128,000 pre-approved refugees. The government has challenged the injunction, calling it “excessive overreach.” Refugee groups have accused the government of “delaying compliance” with the court order.

President Trump signed an executive order in February offering refugee status to Afrikaners, claiming they face “government-sponsored race-based discrimination” in South Africa. The order directs Cabinet officials to “prioritize humanitarian relief” for Afrikaners “escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation”.

South African officials strongly dispute these claims. The South African Police Service said “only one farmer, who happens to be white,” had been killed between October 1 and December 31, urging the public “to desist from assumptions that belong to the past.”

In North Carolina, 10 Afrikaners have been resettled, with three arriving on May 12 and seven on May 30. Most are housed in Raleigh apartments, supported by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Welcome House program. Marc Wyatt, director of Welcome House Raleigh, said: “Our position is that however morally and ethically charged it is, our mandate is to help welcome and love people”.

Governor Josh Stein declared June 20-26 “North Carolina Refugees Welcome Week,” aligning with World Refugee Day on June 20. Meanwhile, agencies like World Relief Durham, which laid off 10 staff due to the program’s pause, continue to serve refugees who arrived before the suspension.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants is providing services to 14 Afrikaners across Idaho, Iowa and North Carolina. “We’ll continue to do our part regardless of country of origin,” said USCRI President Eskinder Negash.

Executive Director Adam Clark of World Relief Durham said his office has not been asked to resettle Afrikaners but remains open to supporting existing clients. On June 21, Durham Refugee Day will celebrate refugee contributions at a community event in Durham Central Park.

Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, said his group anticipates “serving a small number” of arrivals but noted the situation is “complicated by the reality that the government is not bringing them to the US through the traditional State Department initial resettlement process”.

The controversy highlights broader tensions in U.S. immigration policy. White people comprise over 80% of the country’s population own around 4% of private land while 72% is held by Whites in South Africa, where racial inequality remains a contentious issue three decades after apartheid ended.

Deputy Secretary Landau defended the program, stating refugees were selected when they “could be assimilated easily into our country.” Critics argue the designation contradicts the fundamental principles of the refugee program, which traditionally prioritizes those fleeing war and persecution regardless of race or economic status.

As agencies and advocates push for a return to inclusive refugee admissions, the selective resettlement of Afrikaners continues to draw both support and condemnation from various quarters of American society.