The Trump administration is under scrutiny for its contrasting immigration policies in May 2025. Fifty-nine white South Africans arrived in the United States as refugees, welcomed under a program initiated by President Trump.
Concurrently, the administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans, potentially leading to the deportation of thousands. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that Afghanistan's improved security conditions no longer justify TPS.
Contrasting Approaches
The focus on white Afrikaners, who claim racial discrimination in South Africa, contrasts sharply with the deportation of Afghans who were granted temporary protected status following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Many Afghans risked their lives aiding American forces. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized that the Afrikaner refugees were carefully vetted and pose no security threat.
Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin stated that protections for Afghan immigrants were always temporary. Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, criticized the administration, calling the TPS termination a betrayal of those who risked their lives for America.