The move by President Donald Trump to extend refuge to white South African citizens, known as Afrikaners, has sparked widespread criticism both domestically and internationally. Democratic Congressman Rubén Gallego voiced his disapproval on social media, stating, "There are Cubans with stronger asylum cases."
This comment from Gallego comes on the heels of the arrival of 59 white South Africans in Washington DC, marking the commencement of a new resettlement initiative spearheaded by the Trump administration. President Trump has justified this program by asserting that Afrikaners face "racial discrimination" and violence in South Africa, pointing to the land expropriation policies without compensation promoted by the African National Congress (ANC).
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the government's support for these newcomers, emphasizing, "As the president assured, Afrikaners fleeing persecution are welcome in the United States. The South African government has treated these people terribly—threatening to seize their private lands and subjecting them to vile racial discrimination," he communicated via his official account. Rubio further expressed that the Trump administration "is proud to offer them refuge in our great country."
Controversy Over Immigration Policies
For lawmakers like Rubén Gallego, the program highlights a double standard in immigration policy. "There are Cubans with better asylum cases than these Afrikaners," he commented on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that the criteria for granting refuge in this instance is more about ideological alignment than true humanitarian need.
This decision has reignited discussions about the closure of the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, a pathway that was shut down in 2017 for healthcare workers fleeing overseas missions and state control from Havana.
Diplomatic Tensions and Denials
Trump's decision has further strained diplomatic ties between the United States and South Africa, especially following an executive order signed in February that denounced "large-scale killings of white farmers" and human rights violations against this community. The South African government has vehemently rejected these accusations, maintaining that "there is no persecution of Afrikaners," and law enforcement reports contradict any claims of genocide or systematic ethnic violence.
According to official statistics, 44 homicides were reported in rural areas in 2024, with only eight involving white farmers. Experts and analysts have raised questions about the humanitarian basis of the program. South African political analyst Ryan Cummings explained to BBC Mundo that "Afrikaners do not face collective marginalization due to their culture, race, or language" and remain at the upper end of South Africa's socioeconomic spectrum.
Geopolitical Implications
This conflict also plays into a larger geopolitical context, where South Africa has gained international attention for its critical stance towards Israel and its genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice. Some analysts believe Trump's initiative aims to delegitimize a government he views as aligned with Washington's strategic adversaries.
Since the signing of the executive order, over 70,000 white South Africans have shown interest in applying for the program, according to the South African Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta.
Questions About U.S. Asylum Policies
Why is the Trump administration's decision to offer asylum to Afrikaners controversial?
The decision is controversial because it has sparked allegations of a double standard in immigration policies, as critics argue that many Cubans have stronger cases for asylum. The move is seen as ideologically motivated rather than driven by genuine humanitarian concerns.
What is the response of the South African government to Trump's claims?
The South African government has denied allegations of persecution against Afrikaners, stating that there is no evidence of systematic genocide or ethnic violence as claimed by the Trump administration.