First South Africans Depart for US Under Trump Plan

A group of 49 white South Africans boarded a charter flight from Johannesburg, Gauteng to the United States (US) on Sunday, 11 May, marking the first group of refugees to be relocated under US President Donald Trump’s controversial resettlement program.

The passengers – claiming that they were victims of racial discrimination in South Africa – were granted refugee status after Trump’s executive order in February, which offers asylum to those allegedly fleeing racially-biased laws.

The refugees are expected to land at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C., before continuing their journey to Texas. This move has sparked tensions in both countries. South Africa has denied accusations of persecuting its white minority, with critics pointing to the fact that whites still hold the majority of land and wealth in the country.

The Trump administration’s decision to prioritise Afrikaners, a minority group, comes amid a broader freeze on refugee admissions from other parts of the world.

While some see the relocation as a response to perceived discrimination, others argue it reflects a misunderstanding of South Africa’s complex racial dynamics, with right-wing voices contributing to the narrative of victimhood.

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