U.S. limits the number of refugees to 7,500 for 2026, with priority given to white South Africans

The administration of President Donald Trump set a new limit of 7,500 refugees for fiscal year 2026, the lowest figure since the creation of the program in 1980.

The announcement, published in the Federal Register, states that admissions will be justified for humanitarian reasons or national interest, and that most of the slots will be allocated to South African Afrikaners, in compliance with Executive Order 14204.

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The measure replaces the limit of 125,000 refugees set under the Joe Biden administration and is part of a broader policy aimed at strengthening national security and tightening immigration controls.

The presidential document also stipulates that all admissions will be subject to strict identity and security checks, in accordance with previous executive orders that restrict the entry of foreign nationals considered a risk to the country.

With this decision, the U.S. government redefines its refugee policy, prioritizing security and immigration control over the traditional humanitarian protection approach.

From: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/31/2025-19752/presidential-determination-on-refugee-admissions-for-fiscal-year-2026?

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