President Donald Trump is easing his administration's cap on the number of refugees who can enter the United States, according to a forthcoming White House memo. Set to be published officially on Wednesday, the directive says the additional 10,000 slots — raising the annual limit from 7,500 to 17,500 — are reserved for white South Africans.
"An unforeseen emergency refugee situation now exists due to recent increases in the incitement of racially motivated violence on the part of the Government of South Africa and leaders of prominent political parties in South Africa," reads the memo, which is addressed to the secretaries of state, homeland security and health and human services.
The White House document did not provide further information. Experts who spoke with PBS News said there is no refugee or humanitarian crisis affecting this group.
Across the first fiscal year of his second term, the Trump administration resettled 506 refugees, nearly 70% of whom were white South Africans, the Migration Policy Institute reported.
Trump's advocacy for white Afrikaners stands in contrast to his other moves dismantling the country's refugee program.
