FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 14, 2025

UPDATED INFORMATION:

No Refugee Program in Place (Yet)

Background:

On February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order titled:

"Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa."

Key Points of the Executive Order:

Response to Expropriation Act 13 of 2024:
The U.S. government has taken action in response to South Africa’s racially discriminatory policies, including land expropriation without compensation.

Termination of Aid and Assistance:
The U.S. has suspended all foreign aid and assistance to South Africa, except for emergency anti-retroviral support, which will continue through the end of the U.S. fiscal year in September 2025.

Refugee Resettlement Program:

The U.S. government has announced its intention to resettle “Afrikaner refugees” and other disfavoured minorities facing government-sponsored, race-based discrimination in South Africa.

Implementation Steps for the Refugee Program:
The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security have been directed to develop a formal process for admission and resettlement through the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

February 10, 2025 – U.S. Embassy Clarification

The U.S. Embassy, tasked with program implementation, has provided the following clarifications:

• The term "Afrikaner refugees" includes minority groups such as Indians, Coloureds, and White South Africans, collectively referred to as “disfavoured minorities.”

• The U.S. is currently developing a structured plan to resettle these groups as refugees.

• No formal refugee program is currently in place.

• The resettlement process will take place in South Africa and will require coordination with U.S. agencies before implementation begins.

Social Media Clarifications (February 12, 2025)

• The U.S. Embassy’s official X account (formerly Twitter) released a graphic reiterating that the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are responsible for developing a specific rollout plan.

• No new information has been released regarding eligibility, application processes, or numerical limits on resettlement.

• At this time, there is no active refugee program.

• The specific details of the program will be determined in the coming weeks or months.

Important Warnings to the Public

This is NOT an asylum program.

• U.S. asylum is only available to individuals already inside the United States.

• The refugee process will be conducted in South Africa, and applicants must wait for the program’s formal rollout.

• There is NO current refugee application process in place.

• Until the Department of State and DHS finalize a formal plan, no one can apply for refugee status under this initiative.

🔗 What a Refugee Process Could Look Like (Link to page outlining potential process.

Beware of Misinformation

We strongly caution individuals against falling victim to misinformation or fraudulent services that claim to offer immediate resettlement or expedited processing.At present, there is no official application process in place.

It is critical to seek accurate and reliable immigration advice from licensed professionals.

🔴 DO NOT rely on non-lawyers or unofficial sources for guidance on U.S. immigration policies.

✅ Consult authorized government channels such as:

U.S. Department of StateDepartment of Homeland SecurityU.S. Embassy in South Africa

For trusted legal counsel, seek guidance from licensed immigration attorneys specializing in U.S. immigration law.At Versfeld & Hugo, LLC, we are committed to providing fact-based legal advice and will continue to monitor developments closely.

For Further Updates

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For any other inquiries, contact:

✉️ [email protected]

📞 +1 816-891-8600

🌐 www.versfeldimmigration.com

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X for real-time updates.

🔖 #USRefugeeProgram #SouthAfrica #ImmigrationLaw #VersfeldHugo #emigrate2america

References:

📌 White House Announcement: (Click here)

📌 U.S. Embassy South Africa Fact Sheet: (Click here)