The White House revealed on Thursday that President Donald Trump has established a refugee admissions ceiling of 7,500 for fiscal year 2026, marking the lowest limit in US history. This decision is part of a broader initiative by the administration to revamp refugee policies and redefine global asylum standards.
In the annual refugee determination issued on September 30, President Trump emphasized that the majority of admissions would prioritize white South Africans, specifically Afrikaners, who he claimed were facing racial persecution in their homeland. Despite this, the South African government has refuted allegations of widespread discrimination or violence against Afrikaners.
Trump suspended all refugee admissions shortly after assuming office in January, citing the need for the program to align with the “best interests of the United States.” Subsequently, he initiated a special resettlement pathway for Afrikaners, which drew considerable criticism from refugee advocates. As of early September, only 138 South Africans had been resettled in the United States, according to Reuters.
In the released document, Trump stated that his administration would also consider refugees who have been subjected to “illegal or unjust discrimination” in their respective countries of origin. An internal memo circulated among US officials in April hinted that the administration might prioritize Europeans targeted for their political beliefs, such as opposition to mass migration or support for populist movements. However, the final refugee plan did not explicitly mention these groups.
During the United Nations General Assembly in September, senior Trump officials called on other nations to participate in a global effort to enhance asylum protections, signaling a push to reshape the post-World War II migration framework.
While US law mandates that the executive branch consult with Congress before finalizing refugee levels, Democratic lawmakers, including US Representative Jamie Raskin and Senator Dick Durbin, alleged that this consultation did not occur. They criticized the determination, labeling it as “morally indefensible, illegal, and invalid.”
A senior Trump administration official attributed the absence of consultation to the government shutdown that commenced on October 1, stating that no refugees would be admitted until the issue was resolved. The new 7,500-person ceiling signifies a significant decrease from the 100,000 refugees admitted during former President Joe Biden’s tenure in fiscal 2024.
Gideon Maltz, CEO of the Tent Partnership for Refugees, commented that refugees play a crucial role in addressing labor shortages and boosting the US economy. He criticized the move to reduce refugee admissions, stating that it does not prioritize America’s best interests.
In a related development, the White House announced intentions to transfer oversight of refugee support programs from the State Department to the Department of Health and Human Services, indicating a structural change in how refugee assistance programs will be managed moving forward.