President Donald J. Trump has established the lowest refugee admissions ceiling in U.S. history for fiscal year 2026 at 7,500, according to a presidential determination dated September 30. The policy focuses on admitting South African Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority group, citing claims of persecution in their homeland. This represents a sharp contrast to the previous cap set by former President Joe Biden, which allowed 125,000 refugees annually.
Upon returning to office in January, Trump immediately halted all refugee admissions, stating the program would resume only if it aligned with “the best interest of the United States.” Subsequent efforts prioritized Afrikaners for resettlement, though only 138 South Africans had been admitted by early September, according to official data. The new plan also expands eligibility to “other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands,” as outlined in a leaked internal memo from April. The document suggested Europeans facing discrimination for opposing mass migration or supporting populist parties could also qualify.
The revised refugee limits coincide with broader immigration enforcement measures. Southern border apprehensions have fallen to a 55-year low, with 237,000 reported this fiscal year—a decline of over 80 percent. At the U.S.-Canada border, illegal crossings dropped by roughly 95 percent following a 2025 security crackdown. Deportations have surged, with federal authorities projecting 600,000 removals by year’s end. Since January 2025, over half a million undocumented immigrants have been deported, alongside a significant rise in voluntary departures.
