Thousands of South Africans seek asylum in US after Trump’s offer

Thousands of South Africans, particularly white farmers, have shown interest in relocating to the United States following president Donald Trump’s controversial offer of asylum.
The initiative, aimed at providing a safe haven for farmers feeling threatened by South Africa’s land reform policies and increasing violence, has sparked a surge of interest from around 67,000 individuals. The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (SACCUSA) reported that many of those seeking asylum are between the ages of 25 and 45, with most bearing Afrikaner or English surnames. These applicants expressed concerns over growing insecurity linked to the South African government’s recent legislation permitting land expropriation without compensation. Trump’s executive order, issued in February, extended refugee status to Afrikaners, describing them as victims of “unjust racial discrimination. Later, he broadened the offer to include all South African farmers, describing the country as “a dangerous place for them.”
This offer has led to strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticized the asylum offer, asserting that the land reform policies are aimed at ensuring fair access to land and not confiscating property. Trump’s intervention, which escalated tensions, has fueled debates on race, economic inequality, and international relations. The U.S. embassy in Pretoria confirmed receiving the list of applicants, and while some view Trump’s initiative as a humanitarian gesture, it has become a polarizing issue, intensifying discussions on land ownership and the legacy of apartheid. Some experts and observers have also highlighted that while some white South Africans may face discrimination, more than three decades after apartheid ended, the country’s white minority still continues to control most of the nation’s private land and wealth.