South Africa has agreed not to interfere with a U.S. refugee program that allows white South Africans to emigrate, according to a December 23 internal meeting summary reviewed by Reuters. The assurance came after diplomatic tensions escalated when South African authorities raided a U.S. refugee processing site in Johannesburg, briefly detaining American officials and arresting contractors.
The meeting summary indicates that South African officials told Washington they might reject claims that white South Africans face genocide but would not prevent individuals from exercising their right to emigrate. The program was launched under former President Donald Trump, who froze most global refugee admissions while prioritizing Afrikaners based on alleged race-based persecution claims that Pretoria has repeatedly denied.
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have deteriorated in recent months, including after Trump confronted President Cyril Ramaphosa over the alleged genocide claims and the U.S. barred South Africa from attending upcoming G20 meetings. Despite the December raid, the U.S. State Department confirmed that refugee operations continue, reporting that more Afrikaners arrived in the U.S. in December 2025 than in any previous month, with higher numbers expected in January. South Africa’s foreign ministry denied negotiating the program directly with the United States.
