‘I cried like a baby’: Afrikaner ‘refugees’ left stranded after United States rejections
Some White South Africans have been left stranded as US tightens refugee vetting and issues unappealable denials.
Dozens of white South Africans who applied for “refugee” status in the United States under President Donald Trump’s executive order are facing unexpected rejections, leaving families stranded after liquidating their assets.
Following months of conditional approvals, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began issuing unappealable denial letters to applicants, dismantling expectations driven by discredited claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa.
The sudden wave of rejections reportedly come as Washington tightens oversight of Executive Order 14204. Internal USCIS documents reveal that anti-fraud personnel from the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate were redirected full-time to conduct background checks and screen for potential unlawful voters among South African arrivals.
In response, dismayed applicants have formed support social media networks after receiving official notices stating their cases were permanently ineligible for resettlement.
Background checks cite ‘moral turpitude’ and past violence
As reported by The Guardian, USCIS cited criminal histories and public safety concerns for the decisions. In one prominent case, a 67-year-old applicant was denied entry on grounds of “crime involving moral turpitude” and the “commission of acts of torture or extra judicial killing”.
The man disclosed during background screening that he had shot at least one black person while working as a security guard during a 1995 alcohol shop break-in, though he insisted he acted in self-defence and was never charged.
Other families, such as farm managers Pieter and Liesl, were rejected on 24 July 2026 after selling their home, car, and possessions, following an administrative error regarding their US-born daughter’s nationality.
Diplomatic friction and mounting financial support
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler confirmed to the UK news outlet that the Department of Homeland Security evaluated every application individually, reiterating that the administration prioritised American public safety.
Despite the recent rejections, US State Department admissions reports as of 31 August 2026 reveal that 12 901 South Africans were admitted in the 2026 fiscal year, with 2 646 arriving in August alone.
Most arrivals have settled in Texas, Florida, and California, while the US Department of Health and Human Services considers doubling initial federal resettlement grants from $2 400 to $4 500 (about R74 250) per person.
However, the $100 million (R1.65 billion) programme has drawn severe pushback. Earlier this year, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen questioned the prioritisation of Afrikaner “refugees” over Afghan allies, noting that the United Nations Refugee Agency does not classify white South Africans as a persecuted group.
Bilateral ties between Pretoria and Washington remain strained. South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, confirmed in July that he was actively lobbying in Washington to revoke the executive order, with official crime statistics that show violent crime affects all South Africans regardless of race.