A group of 49 Afrikaners is preparing to leave South Africa for the United States after being granted refugee status, making them the first cohort to benefit from a controversial executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The group, made up of Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans, is expected to depart via a chartered flight early next week. Their arrival is being coordinated for Monday, May 12, at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. U.S. authorities are also making arrangements for commercial flights as a backup, sources familiar with the operation told NPR.
Before they can depart, all individuals must pass vetting checks for outstanding criminal charges, according to South Africa’s Department of Transport. “If there is any issue of criminality, you can’t leave the country when there’s a criminal case pending,” spokesperson Collen Msibi said.
The refugees have been assigned P1 status, a designation reserved for individuals referred for resettlement due to compelling humanitarian circumstances. Once in the U.S., they will be resettled in ten different states, including California, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, and New York. Some are expected to reunite with family members already living in America, while others will be supported by local resettlement organizations.
Their departure follows a February executive order by Trump directing the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security to prioritize resettlement for Afrikaners, whom he described as victims of racial discrimination and land seizure in South Africa. The order also slashed U.S. aid to Pretoria.
A document viewed by NPR indicates that the arrivals will be given housing and assigned case managers to assist with integration. Refugees are expected to seek employment immediately, mainly in entry-level sectors such as manufacturing, warehousing, or customer service. The document warns that professional qualifications obtained in South Africa may not be recognized in the U.S.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from South Africa’s government. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office dismissed the refugee claim as a politically motivated move. “Our position is that there are no South African citizens who can be classified as refugees to any part of the world,” said a spokesperson.
The Department of International Relations added that the Afrikaner population remains among South Africa’s most economically privileged, questioning the logic behind granting them refugee status while denying asylum to others facing genuine hardship.
Despite tensions, South Africa confirmed it will not block citizens from leaving, citing their constitutional right to freedom of movement.
A press conference is expected at Dulles Airport upon the group’s arrival, where high-level U.S. officials are set to speak. The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration reportedly declined to participate in the relocation process.
