Trump Is Right To Prioritize Refugees Who Will Make Better Americans
On Monday, dozens of South Africans — primarily white Afrikaner farmers — arrived in the United States, having been granted refugee status by the Trump administration. The propaganda press responded by implicitly accusing the administration of hypocrisy and racial bias. Yet this criticism is not only disingenuous — it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose and limits of America’s refugee and asylum policies.
A new South African law means white farmers could have their land taken away without being paid for it. Though framed as a correction to apartheid-era injustice, the law has created an environment where racially motivated persecution may become institutionalized. In response, the Trump administration announced both an investigation into South Africa and the approval of refugee status for 60 individuals fleeing the persecution.
Under current U.S. law, a refugee is described as a foreigner who may face persecution in his home country on the basis of “race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.”
The refugees will land in Virginia before taking up residence in 10 states, according to The Washington Post.
Teo Armus, writing for The Washington Post, framed the administration’s decision as a racially charged exception: “Trump shut out refugees but is making White South Africans an exception.” (Read more from “Trump Is Right To Prioritize Refugees Who Will Make Better Americans” HERE)
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr
