Overview
- The White House notice sets the fiscal 2026 refugee ceiling at 7,500 and says slots will be "primarily" allocated to Afrikaners from South Africa and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination.
- The limit represents a steep cut from the 125,000 ceiling under President Biden, the lowest cap since the U.S. refugee program was created in 1980.
- President Trump suspended refugee admissions in January, leaving thousands who had been vetted or had confirmed travel plans in limbo and prompting layoffs at resettlement organizations.
- The administration will shift administration of initial refugee resettlement grants from the State Department to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement.
- Advocacy groups including IRAP and Global Refuge condemned the move as politicized or discriminatory, while South African officials dispute claims that white South Africans face persecution.