The United States is planning to double its annual refugee cap to admit more white South Africans into the country.

US officials have discussed increasing the current refugee cap of 7,500 by an additional 10,000 slots, specifically to allow more Afrikaners to obtain refugee status, according to sources familiar with the internal discussions.

Since early 2025, the Trump administration has prioritized the entry and settlement of Afrikaners in light of claims of their persecution in South Africa, claims that the government has repeatedly denied.

The US Refugee Admissions Program was formally established in 1980, following the exodus of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflicts in Vietnam and Cambodia. Over time, the program has expanded to offer safe haven to persecuted individuals from around the world.

According to State Department figures, the US admitted approximately 4,500 South Africans as refugees in the first six months of the fiscal year, putting the program on track to exceed the limits set by the Trump administration.