A group of 49 white South Africans are set to arrive in the United States on Monday, marking the first wave of Afrikaners to immigrate to the U.S. as refugees following a new program announced by the Trump administration in February. The group, consisting of families and children, departed from their homes in South Africa on a private charter flight on Sunday bound for the U.S. They have been granted refugee status in accordance with the program announced by the Trump administration.
According to Collen Msibi, a spokesperson for the South African Department of Transportation, the immigrants are scheduled to arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday, Eastern Time. These individuals are among the first white South Africans, specifically Afrikaners, to be resettled by the U.S. government. Afrikaners are descendants of Dutch immigrants and form a minority group within the white population of South Africa. President Trump issued an executive order on February 7, accusing the South African government, led by black leaders, of implementing discriminatory policies against the white minority and outlining a plan to resettle them in the U.S.
The South African government has denied these allegations, stating that claims of persecution against white South Africans are “completely false.” As for the travel arrangements for the first group of white South African refugees heading to the U.S., Msibi revealed that they are flying on a charter plane operated by a company based in Oklahoma, USA. The plane will first stop in Dakar, Senegal for refueling before continuing on to Dulles Airport.
The group departed from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where they underwent police scrutiny and airport checks before boarding. Msibi explained that they had to undergo security checks to ensure there were no outstanding criminal cases or arrest warrants before being allowed to leave the country. The South African government has stated that there is no reason to resettle them in the U.S. but will not obstruct their decision and respects their freedom of choice.
Upon their arrival at Dulles Airport, they are expected to be greeted by a U.S. government delegation. According to a document obtained by the Associated Press, the Office for Refugee Resettlement, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has prepared to support these immigrants with housing, furniture, household goods, as well as funds for groceries, clothing, diapers, and other essential items. The document describes the resettlement of white South Africans as a “governmental priority.”
(Associated Press reporting contributed to this article)