Storm Over Refugee Claims: US and South Africa Clash

Thu Dec 18 2025 12:37:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Tensions rise as South Africa accuses the US of employing illegal workers in refugee application processing, highlighting deeper issues regarding immigration and national interests.

South Africa has accused the US of illegally employing Kenyan nationals in a facility designed for processing refugee claims for white South Africans. This controversy surfaces amid accusations from Washington regarding South Africa's interference in admitting Afrikaners facing alleged persecution. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated as the US prioritizes Afrikaners while drastically reducing its overall refugee intake.

South Africa has accused the US of using Kenyan nationals without work permits at a facility processing applications by white South Africans for refugee status.

Seven Kenyans were arrested after intelligence reports revealed that people had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas and had illegally taken up work at the center, said a statement from South Africa's department of home affairs.

Washington accused South Africa of interference in its efforts to admit white Afrikaners as refugees, in a response issued to Agence France-Presse. The US is offering asylum status to Afrikaners as it says the community is facing persecution. South Africa's government has rejected the claims.

The US has reduced its yearly intake of refugees from around the world from 125,000 to 7,500, but says it will prioritize Afrikaners, who are mostly descendants of Dutch and French settlers.

This is one of the issues that have caused a sharp deterioration in relations between South Africa and the Trump administration.

South Africa says the Kenyan nationals arrested in Tuesday's raid will now be deported and banned from entering the country for five years. They had previously been denied work visas but were found engaging in work despite only being in possession of tourist visas, in clear violation of their conditions of entry into the country, the statement said.

South Africa is concerned that foreign officials appear to have coordinated with undocumented workers and has reached out to the US and Kenya to resolve the matter. The home affairs department emphasized its commitment to combating illegal immigration and visa abuse.

While the State Department is yet to respond to the BBC's request for comment, a statement from a US official indicated dissatisfaction with South Africa's actions, labeling them as unacceptable. The processing of applications by white South Africans is being done by RSC Africa, a Kenyan refugee support center operated by Church World Service.

US President Donald Trump has cited claims of genocide against Afrikaners to support refugee admissions. However, there's no evidence indicating that white farmers are particularly targeted compared to other groups. Tensions escalated further when Trump showcased videos alleging violence against white South Africans during a meeting with South African officials.