Summary
President Donald Trump has announced a plan to limit the number of refugees entering the United States to 7,500 for the fiscal year 2026. This is the lowest cap on refugees since the 1980 Refugee Act. Priority will be given to white South Africans, following claims of risk in South Africa.
Key Facts
- President Trump announced a new limit of 7,500 refugees for fiscal year 2026.
- This is the lowest refugee cap since the 1980 Refugee Act, which initially set it at 50,000 per year.
- The current refugee cap, set by former President Biden, is 125,000.
- Priority will be given to white South Africans, whom Trump claims are at risk of "genocide" in South Africa.
- Admission into the US will require approval from both the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security.
- An Executive Order, signed by Trump, responds to South Africa’s Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, concerning land seizures.
- Experts and South African officials dispute Trump’s claims about risks to white South Africans, suggesting no evidence of "white genocide."
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa argues that violence in South Africa affects all citizens equally.
