Trump administration cuts U.S. refugee admissions to 7,500, with priority for white South Africans

The Trump administration has announced a sharp reduction in the number of refugees the United States will accept in the coming fiscal year, setting a cap of 7,500 – the lowest in the country’s modern history. A notice published Thursday in the Federal Register confirmed the decision, which also prioritizes applications from white South Africans, a move critics say signals a major shift in U.S. refugee policy.

The new ceiling marks a drastic decline from the 125,000 refugee limit set under President Joe Biden’s administration. The White House offered no detailed explanation for the cut, saying only that the reduced intake is “justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.”

Refugee admissions have been a recurring political issue since Donald Trump first took office, when he suspended the U.S. refugee resettlement program on his first day. Since then, the number of people admitted under the program has dwindled, with reports indicating that most recent arrivals have been white South Africans.

Earlier this year, the administration announced a specific program for Afrikaner farmers, arguing they face discrimination and violence in South Africa – a claim the South African government strongly disputes.

The sharp reduction is expected to further strain community organizations that help resettle refugees, many of which have already laid off staff following years of declining arrivals.