US President Donald Trump has announced that he will limit the number of refugees entering the US to 7,500 for the fiscal year 2026.This is a record low since the 1980 Refugee Act when a cap on refugees entering the country was set at 50,000 per year, but could be changed. That was the same year that the US refugee resettlement programme was launched. Currently, the cap sits at 125,000, set by former President Joe Biden.Furthermore, the Trump administration said priority will be given to white South Africans.But while the new cap is a significant drop from the number of refugees admitted by the US in more recent years, the US has made use of highly restrictive and often racist immigration policies throughout its history.Who will be allowed to take refuge in the US from 2026?No more than 7,500 people will be granted refugee status and these must undergo very tough checks before they can enter. Approval by the secretaries of state and homeland security will be required.The White House announcement reiterated that Trump also signed a proclamation in June that stipulates that foreign nationals can still be denied entry if allowing them into the country would harm the country’s interests.Why is Trump prioritising white South Africans?Trump claims that White Afrikaaners are at risk of “genocide” in South Africa. In February this year, …
