4,496 South Africans admitted to U.S. as refugees since October 2025

A total of 4,496 South Africans were admitted to the United States as refugees from Oct. 1, 2025, to March 31, accounting for nearly all refugee arrivals during the period, South African media outlet Independent Online reported on Saturday, citing data from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.
The figures showed that only three refugees from Afghanistan were admitted over the same period, reflecting a sharp decline in overall refugee admissions under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which significantly reduced the annual refugee intake while prioritizing applications from Afrikaners, a white minority group in South Africa.