Trump Sets Refugee Admissions Cap at Record Low of 7,500

US President Donald Trump has announced a record-low refugee admissions ceiling of 7,500 for fiscal year 2026. This decision, revealed in a White House document published on October 30, 2023, is part of a broader initiative to reform refugee policies in the United States and globally.

In an annual refugee determination report dated September 30, Trump indicated that the focus would be primarily on white South Africans from the Afrikaner ethnic group. He has claimed that Afrikaners are subjected to persecution in the predominantly Black nation, a statement that the South African government has disputed.

Since assuming office, Trump paused all US refugee admissions, stating they would only resume if deemed in the best interest of the United States. Shortly thereafter, he initiated efforts to admit Afrikaners, a move that drew significant criticism from refugee advocacy groups. By early September, reports indicated that only 138 South Africans had been admitted to the US during the current fiscal year, according to Reuters.

Shift in Refugee Policy

In the recent determination, Trump emphasized that his administration would also consider admitting “other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands.” An internal document drafted by US officials earlier this year hinted that the administration might prioritize refugees from Europe if they faced discrimination for holding particular views, such as opposition to mass migration or support for populist parties. However, Trump’s public plan did not specify any additional groups beyond Afrikaners.

During the United Nations General Assembly in September, senior officials from the Trump administration urged other countries to participate in a global campaign aimed at reducing asylum protections. This represents a significant departure from the post-World War II migration framework that has governed refugee policies for decades.

The announced ceiling of 7,500 contrasts sharply with the 100,000 refugees who were admitted under former President Joe Biden in fiscal year 2024. Critics of the current administration’s approach argue that limiting refugee admissions undermines the United States’ long-standing commitment to humanitarian values.

Gideon Maltz, CEO of the Tent Partnership for Refugees, commented on the implications of this policy shift, stating that refugees contribute significantly to addressing labor shortages within the country. He remarked that the refugee program “has been extraordinarily good for America,” asserting that dismantling it does not align with putting America first.

In a related development, the White House announced a transfer of oversight for refugee support programs from the State Department to the Department of Health and Human Services. This change signifies a strategic shift in how the US will manage its refugee policies moving forward, further illustrating the administration’s intent to reshape the landscape of immigration and asylum in the United States.