During the first half of the 2026 fiscal year, from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the United States resettled a striking 4,496 refugees, nearly all of whom hailed from South Africa. This represents a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy under President Donald Trump, with a stark contrast to the mere three refugees admitted from Afghanistan in the same period. The intake surge, particularly in February and March 2026 with over 1,300 arrivals each month, follows an executive order signed in February 2025 creating a specific refugee pathway for white South Africans, especially Afrikaners, based on alleged racial discrimination and violence, claims rejected by South African officials.