Dozens of white South Africans have departed their country as part of a new refugee program launched by U.S President Donald Trump.
The first group, consisting of 49 Afrikaners including families with young children, left Johannesburg on Sunday aboard a privately chartered flight headed for the United States.
The relocation follows an executive order signed in February by Trump, who accused South Africa’s government of discriminating against its white minority. The program offers fast-tracked refugee status to Afrikaners, a group descended from Dutch and French settlers, citing claims of racial persecution.
The group was scheduled to land at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., on Monday morning. Their journey included a fuel stop in Dakar, Senegal. Upon arrival, they were expected to be welcomed by a U.S. government team, including representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services.
South African officials confirmed the departure but rejected the reasoning behind it. The government insisted that there is no persecution of Afrikaners, stating they remain economically advantaged and play active roles in public life. Authorities said they would not block the group’s exit, as it was a matter of personal choice.
While this group is the first to leave under the new program, White House officials indicated that more flights are planned. Trump’s team argues that the situation in South Africa justifies refugee protections under U.S. law, claiming the group faces race-based mistreatment. This position is contested by both South African leaders and human rights observers.
Critics of the program have raised concerns about fairness, questioning why white South Africans are being prioritized while refugee pathways for individuals from conflict zones like Afghanistan and Iraq have been frozen. The Trump administration paused multiple international refugee admissions after the program’s rollout.
Officials at South Africa’s main airport verified that those leaving underwent standard background checks to rule out criminal activity. The relocation is being supported by the U.S. refugee agency, which has promised to help families settle into new homes and adjust to life in America.
Though the move has drawn international attention, reactions within South Africa have been mixed. Many citizens expressed confusion over the claims of persecution, noting that Afrikaners remain a visible and influential part of the nation’s social and political landscape.
With over 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa’s population of 62 million, their departure under refugee status marks a controversial moment in global migration policy — and one likely to fuel further debate as more arrivals are expected in the United States.