(WDNews) – The first group of white South Africans, selected by the Trump administration for resettlement in Alabama, have officially arrived in the state. These Afrikaners, who began arriving on May 12, are descendants of European settlers in South Africa and were part of the apartheid regime. Local organizations have committed to providing support services to help them settle into their new communities. However, refugees from other regions continue to face uncertainty, as the federal government paused its resettlement program earlier this year.
“We are mandated to serve all refugees, no matter how they arrive,” said Liz Kurtz, the Alabama refugee coordinator for Inspiritus, a nonprofit serving Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Kurtz declined to share the number of Afrikaner families relocating to Alabama due to privacy regulations.
Afrikaners have faced challenges in South Africa, including claims of racial discrimination and difficulties accessing jobs and opportunities. The South African government has also implemented land reform policies targeting white farmers, though it denies any racial bias. These developments have led some Afrikaners to seek refuge outside the country.
While the Trump administration has granted these Afrikaners refugee status, other refugees from nations like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Syria remain stranded. These refugees have already completed the U.S. vetting process but are unable to relocate due to the suspension of the refugee program.
Kurtz expressed hope that by working with the administration to resettle Afrikaners, the broader refugee program might eventually be reinstated. “I hope to help some of the thousands of refugees admitted under President Joe Biden who are now stranded,” she said.
However, not all are supportive of the resettlement efforts. Yasmeen Othman, an employment specialist with Inspiritus, voiced her concerns about prioritizing Afrikaners over other refugees. “I feel like it’s disrespectful to the refugees that we are assisting and helping, that are running from violence and forced displacement, to be helping this population,” Othman told AL.com.
Meanwhile, South African leaders have pushed back against claims made by Trump that white farmers are facing “genocide.” On Monday, as reports surfaced about the arrival of 59 Afrikaners, Trump reiterated his controversial statement during a news conference.
The Episcopal Church, which has been involved in refugee resettlement for nearly four decades, announced it would no longer participate in the Afrikaner resettlement effort. “It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” said Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.
Dwell Mobile, an Alabama-based resettlement organization affiliated with the Episcopal Church, also expressed support for the church’s decision. Executive Director Jeri Stroade emphasized that while the church would not participate in resettling Afrikaners, it would continue to serve its current clients. “We stand with them in their decision. We do anticipate continuing to serve our current clients as they continue to acclimate and rebuild their lives here in the United States,” Stroade said.
The pause in resettlement has had widespread effects on refugee organizations across Alabama, many of which have faced layoffs and closures. Global Ties Alabama, based in Huntsville, was preparing to welcome several refugee families in early 2025 before the federal government’s decision stopped their plans. “You’ve been told you’re coming in January and February and, all of a sudden, you cannot come,” said Executive Director Jacqui Shipe. “I don’t know what kind of persecution they’ve gone through, so I feel devastated about that.”
As resettlement efforts continue to unfold, organizations are grappling with the complex and often controversial nature of refugee assistance under the current U.S. administration.
