Here are the US refugee status criteria, but proving you are an Afrikaner still to be determined
The United States may be giving 'Afrikaner' South Africans the opportunity to resettle there.
White South Africans supporting US President Donald Trump and South African and US tech billionaire Elon Musk gather in front of the US Embassy in Pretoria, on 15 February 2025 for a demonstration. Picture: MARCO LONGARI/AFP
CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit speaks with Stefanie De Saude Darbandi, immigration law specialist at DSD Immigration Attorneys
Listen below.
The United States may be giving 'Afrikaner' South Africans the opportunity to resettle there due to ‘race-based laws’ in South Africa.
US President Donald Trump has officially signed the executive order to provide them with refugee protection.
To qualify as a refugee, you must meet the following criteria:
- Live outside the United States
- Be of special humanitarian concern to the US
- Demonstrate past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
- Not be firmly resettled in another country
- Be admissible to the United States under immigration laws
According to De Saude Darbandi, the requirements the US makes to determine if someone is an Afrikaner still need to be determined.
“One wonders what Trump’s agenda is. He will have his own set of requirements.”
- Stefanie De Saude Darbandi, immigration law specialist at DSD Immigration Attorneys
She adds that refugees may apply for permanent residence status or citizenship in their host country, and their South African citizenship will remain intact.
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