The Trump administration is preparing to set the United States’ annual refugee admissions cap at just 7,500, the lowest in the nation’s history, with priority granted to white South Africans of Afrikaner descent, multiple officials confirmed this week.

The proposed cap, which is pending final approval, marks a sharp reduction from the 125,000 refugees admitted under President Joe Biden in the previous fiscal year. The shift underscores President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reshape U.S. immigration policy around his “America First” agenda since returning to office in January 2025.

If implemented, the plan would drastically narrow the scope of U.S. humanitarian admissions and alter the country’s long-standing leadership role in global refugee resettlement. Neither the White House nor the Department of Homeland Security has officially commented, but sources familiar with the proposal confirmed its details to The New York Times.

Afrikaners Prioritized Under Executive Order

In February, Trump signed an executive order giving preferential consideration to white Afrikaners, a South African minority group descended from Dutch settlers. The administration cited concerns over alleged racial violence and property seizures in South Africa—claims the South African government has dismissed as politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.

According to reports, 138 Afrikaners have already arrived in the U.S. under the program, beginning with an initial group in May.

The administration has offered no comment on whether other vulnerable groups, such as refugees from conflict zones in Syria, Afghanistan, or Sudan, will be included under the drastically reduced cap.

Critics Condemn Move as Discriminatory, Dangerous

The refugee ceiling proposal has drawn sharp condemnation from rights groups, lawmakers, and international observers.

“This cap isn’t just historically low—it’s morally indefensible,” said John Slocum, executive director of Refugee Council USA. “It turns America’s back on those fleeing war, famine, and persecution, while creating a racially biased selection process.”

The decision comes as the Trump administration also lobbies global partners to scale back asylum protections, signaling a coordinated effort to unwind post-World War II norms governing refugee rights. The administration’s stance was further underscored during a recent United Nations side event, where senior U.S. officials urged countries to “rethink” their commitments to displaced populations.

From Global Leader to Global Outlier?

Trump previously froze refugee admissions earlier this year pending a national interest review. While earlier discussions suggested a revised cap between 40,000 and 60,000, the newly proposed 7,500 figure reflects a dramatic retrenchment.

Observers say the move reflects Trump’s longstanding skepticism of multilateral humanitarian frameworks and a desire to consolidate control over immigration policy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Humanitarian experts warn that the cap could fuel global instability, weaken alliances, and damage U.S. credibility on the world stage.

“This marks a fundamental rupture in how the United States has viewed its role in the world,” said former State Department official Anne Richard, who oversaw refugee admissions under the Obama administration. “It sends a message that we are no longer a refuge for the persecuted—unless they fit a certain political or racial profile.”

The refugee ceiling for fiscal year 2026 took effect on October 1. A formal announcement from the White House is expected in the coming weeks.