The United States is seeking to process up to 4,500 refugee applications per month from white South Africans, according to a State Department contracting document dated January 27 — a figure that far exceeds President Donald Trump's stated annual refugee admissions cap.

The document outlines plans to install temporary trailers at the US Embassy in Pretoria to support the effort.

The move signals a significant scaling up of admissions from South Africa, even as refugee processing from most other regions has been severely curtailed.

Trump has said the US would admit only 7,500 refugees globally in fiscal year 2026. Internal discussions last year reportedly considered a higher ceiling of between 40,000 and 60,000.

As of January 31, about 2,000 white South Africans had entered the US under a program launched in May 2025, though arrivals have accelerated in recent months.

However, a US official said refugee travel has been paused in recent weeks, including for white South Africans.

The South African Chamber of Commerce in the United States said more than 67,000 individuals had expressed interest in relocating.

After returning to office in 2025, Trump suspended refugee admissions as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Weeks later, he introduced a policy prioritizing white South Africans of Afrikaner descent for refugee status, citing claims of violent persecution — allegations rejected by South Africa's government and criticized by some refugee advocacy groups.