The United States could increase their annual quota of refugees, dropped to 7,500 under Donald Trump, a State Department official said on Thursday. The previous year, during the last year of the Biden administration, this limit stood at 125,000 people.
The 4,499 people admitted to the United States as refugees since the beginning of the fiscal year (starting on October 1) are all South Africans, except for three Afghans, according to the State Department’s data up to March 31.
These white South African farmers were relocated to the United States following President Donald Trump’s decision to welcome these descendants of European settlers, whom he deems unjustly persecuted in South Africa, according to a State Department document.
“Without wanting to preempt the White House or the president – the final decision is up to him – we are considering examining this issue as soon as the next fiscal year, or even earlier,” said Andrew Veprek, a State Department official, refusing to specify whether this potential increase could be extended to other nationalities or ethnic groups.
Restrictive migration policy of Donald Trump
Donald Trump’s migration policy, marked by increased repression of illegal immigration through raids and violent expulsions, led to strengthened restrictions on legal immigration, including for skilled workers. Measures that Andrew Veprek said he wants to maintain, at an event organized by the Center for Immigration Studies.
Several of these decisions are being appealed in court. The US Supreme Court is set to rule on the Trump administration’s decision to terminate temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants.
Andrew Veprek also noted that negotiations are ongoing with several countries to accept the admission of their nationals. “For example, Venezuelans want to go back home. The Venezuelan government wants Venezuelans to return home, and we want them to leave,” he concluded.
