The office of US President Donald Trump has reportedly launched an initiative to convert small office spaces in Pretoria into refugee centers for thousands of white Afrikaners.
In February, Trump stated that Afrikaners could be admitted as refugees in the U.S. because they are “victims of unjust racial discrimination.” This statement followed the South African government’s implementation of the Expropriation Bill.
According to The New York Times, the initiative, called Mission South Africa, aims to assist Afrikaners in entering the US as refugees. The program, which is being rolled out in phases, has reviewed over 8,200 resettlement requests and identified 100 Afrikaners for potential refugee status, as reported by IOL.
Afrikaners seeking refugee status close to 70 000
The administration has reportedly also provided security escorts to officials conducting the interviews of potential refugees.
“US officials stationed in South Africa are expected to present long-term strategies aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of the president’s vision for the dignified resettlement of eligible Afrikaner applicants by mid-April.
“This was outlined in a memo sent from the US Embassy in Pretoria to the State Department in Washington earlier this month,” IOL reported
The South African Chamber of Commerce in the US announced that 67 042 people have registered on Saccusa’s website as they seek to take Trump’s offer. Canadian immigration consultant Nicholas Avramis, however said Afrikaners who seek refugee status in another country must be mindful that their decision could have long-term implications.
No further details have been provided on how many applicants have been made by end of March.
Are you among the nearly 70 000 to have expressed interest in relocating?
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