US President Donald Trump has slashed the cap on annual refugee admissions from 125,000 to 7,500, the lowest level in American history. The decision, announced in a notice published in the Federal Register, is justified by the administration as being in the national interest and addressing humanitarian concerns. Trump emphasized that the new quota would primarily benefit white South Africans, who he claims have faced systemic discrimination in their homeland, along with other groups subjected to injustice and illegal discrimination. This move is part of a larger crackdown on immigration as Trump seeks to overhaul the asylum system and combat extremism. The president has publicly vowed to carry out the largest deportation program in US history, targeting not only undocumented immigrants but also purging federal agencies of what he calls “woke” practices.
In recent months, Trump has also revoked the protected status of approximately 500,000 Haitian immigrants, asserting that the country’s migrant population includes a significant number of violent criminals. Meanwhile, the administration has expressed support for offering refuge to descendants of white settlers in South Africa, whose government he has accused of committing genocide. This accusation has been strongly refuted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has defended the country’s land reform policies as an effort to correct the injustices of apartheid. The recent refugee policy change and the administration’s stance on immigration reflect a broader ideological shift in US immigration law, with the administration framing its approach as a necessary measure for national security and cultural preservation.