49 White South Africans Arrive in US Under Trump’s Controversial Refugee Plan
First White South Africans Arrive in US as Refugees
The first group of 49 white South African farmers has arrived in the US under a controversial refugee program initiated by former President Donald Trump. The group departed from Johannesburg on Sunday and landed in Washington D.C. before continuing to Texas.
Tensions Rise Between South Africa and the US
Relations between the two countries have been strained for months after Trump claimed that members of South Africa’s Afrikaner minority were victims of racial discrimination. South Africa vehemently denies these claims, stating that there is no persecution of white Afrikaner South Africans.
The South African government has accused Trump of using “white victimhood as a dog whistle” and expelled the US ambassador to South Africa in March after the ambassador accused the government of “race-baiting”. The US has also criticized South Africa for its stance on Israel, accusing Pretoria of taking an “aggressive” position against the country at the International Court of Justice.
The Controversial Refugee Plan
The resettlement scheme did not involve the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is typically involved in refugee resettlement programs. This exclusion has raised eyebrows, as it suggests a fast-tracking process specifically for white Afrikaners, unlike other refugee cases.
The US has criticized South Africa’s land reform policies, accusing the government of seizing land from white farmers without compensation. These claims have been disputed by the South African government.
Claims of Genocide Discredited
Trump’s administration has also highlighted what it describes as the “large-scale killing of farmers” in South Africa. One of Trump’s closest advisors, Elon Musk, has also made claims of a “genocide of white people” in South Africa, which have been widely discredited.
While farm murders are a concern in South Africa, statistics show that the number of murders on farms and smaller agricultural plots is relatively low, with 44 recorded murders in 2014, eight of whom were farmers.
South African author Max du Preez has called the claims of persecution of white South Africans “a total absurdity.” He believes the resettlement scheme is more about internal US politics than any genuine threat to white farmers in South Africa.
Land Reform and its Controversies
The resettlement of white South African farmers coincides with controversial land reform policies in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law in January that allows the government to seize privately owned land without compensation in certain circumstances. This law has sparked debate and concerns about property rights.
Disparities in Land Ownership
It is important to note that while white South Africans make up only 7.3% of the population
