U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has raised the cap for Afrikaner refugees but kept capacity restrictions on refugees from other countries, which sparked disapproval from Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria, Texas.
Cahill, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, welcomed the decision to admit 10,000 more Afrikaners as refugees but said in a statement that resettlement opportunities should be more broadly available.
Afrikaners are a white minority descendent of Dutch settlers. In February, the White House issued a statement that accused the South African government of racial discrimination against Afrikaners through land seizures permitted under the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024. The South African government denies racial discrimination.
On May 28, the administration updated the federal register to change the cap on Afrikaner refugees from 7,500 to 17,500, citing an "unforeseen emergency refugee situation."
Cahill, in a May 28 statement, said the U.S. has a long-standing moral and historical commitment to offering refuge to people fleeing persecution but stressed that the U.S. refugee program should not be limited to "favoring one particular group."
"For decades, the United States was known for offering this opportunity, not favoring one particular group but granting relief in accordance with our laws, our shared values, and the national interest," he said. "Today, however, that is sadly not the case."
He urged the government to restore broader refugee admissions and ensure that vulnerable people of all backgrounds have access to safety.
"We appreciate the administration's acknowledgement that our country can continue to resettle refugees, and we renew our call for resettlement to be extended further to others in need, including those persecuted on the basis of their faith, the likes of whom have no access to refuge in our country at this time," Cahill said.
