Several South African “refugees” have returned to South Africa – and more are contemplating the decision – after spending just a short time in the US.
The news was confirmed via government correspondence.
The refugee resettlement programme – opened primarily to white, Afrikaner farmers – was created by President Donald Trump last year over his views of “white genocide” in South Africa. His claims have been labelled as disinformation by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
WHY REFUGEES ARE RETURNING TO SOUTH AFRICA
On Friday, 24 April, Reuters reported that the Trump administration is planning to significantly increase its intake of white South African refugees.
Last year, the White House announced a 7 500 cap on refugees for its next fiscal year (October 2025 – September 2026). However, earlier this month, government intel revealed that almost 5 000 South Africans have already taken up refugee status in the US.
The news came just days after US political commentator Chris Wyatt reported that several families were considering returning to South Africa.
Despite the increase, Reuters reported that government correspondence indicated several South African families on the refugee resettlement programme had returned home after a short stay.
This included:
- One South African male who arrived in Minneapolis in late January departed the US a month later. Case notes stated that the man had returned after plans for his daughter and grandchildren to join him “fell through”
- A couple who arrived in Twin Falls, Idaho, returned a week later, claiming that a parent was “ill” in South Africa
- A female who was resettled in Moline, Illinois, in mid-March returned home weeks later, also due to being separated from family members.
The case note pertaining to the latter claimed: “Resettlement occurred quickly. She had not thoroughly thought through the process, and her family in South Africa has decided not to continue their own resettlement process. Additionally, the client’s age (66) and ability to provide for herself are a concern.”
Images via YouTube screenshot/Canva
Additionally, Wyatt claimed that two large families – one with nine members – had expressed their desire to go back to South Africa. Wyatt implied that the families had found life in the US difficult.
‘TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAMME’
In his YouTube video, Chris Wyatt admonished the South African refugees who had changed their minds about living in the US.
He said: “Did the USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Services) not make it clear to you that you will miss the birth, the death, the illness of family members because you won’t be able to go back?
“Yet they still went through the programme – taking advantage of the programme”.
He added: “People are not thinking through the process and taking this for a vacation, or destination shopping”.
Wyatss claimed that those individuals had “taken advantage of the refugee programme”.
