“Trump and Musk are about to give refugee status to 60 white South Africans — who do not need it — while Trump locks up and deports refugees here who face genuine dangers in other countries.”
Ahead of the arrival of white South African refugees in the United States fleeing violence, Senator Chris Van Hollen, who most notably traveled to El Salvador to try to secure the release of MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, said that those refugees "do not need it."
"Trump and Musk are about to give refugee status to 60 white South Africans — who do not need it — while Trump locks up and deports refugees here who face genuine dangers in other countries. This is the sick global apartheid policy being adopted by this lawless administration," Van Hollen wrote.
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View on XJust under 50 white South Africans arrived in the US on Monday, landing at Virginia’s Dulles International Airport, per the Washington Post. The 49 Afrikaners, the descendants of Dutch settlers and a minority group in the country, arrived at the airport just after 12 pm, and will board connecting flights to 10 states, three government officials familiar with the plans told the outlet.
An additional 11 others were set to board the flight, but people familiar with the matter said that paperwork issues resulted in the State Department blocking them from boarding.
In March, Trump announced that the US would cease sending federal aid to South Africa and open the US to farmers fleeing violence with a rapid pathway to citizenship also being offered. He wrote at the time, "South Africa is being terrible, plus, to long time Farmers in the country. They are confiscating their LAND and FARMS, and MUCH WORSE THAN THAT. A bad place to be right now, and we are stopping all Federal Funding. To go a step further, any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship. This process will begin immediately!"
A State Department memo obtained by the outlet said that those arriving in the country from South Africa "have witnessed or experienced extreme violence with a racial nexus" such as murders, carjackings, and home invasions.
The memo stated, "This initial cohort of refugees has frequently expressed fear of remaining in South Africa due to race-based violence or other severe harm. Many have also said that they do not trust the police, citing that law enforcement has not adequately investigated crimes against Afrikaners."
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Friday, "What’s happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created. This is persecution based on a protected characteristic, in this case, race."
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