President Donald Trump is considering reducing the U.S. refugee admissions cap to as few as 7,500, according to officials familiar with internal discussions. Sources said most of those openings could be designated for white South African farmers, a move that has drawn concern from refugee advocates and members of Congress.
The administration has not yet submitted the proposed limit to Congress, despite missing a legal deadline last week. Thousands of refugees who have already passed security screenings remain in limbo. Critics say the plan would drastically shift U.S. refugee policy by favoring one group over others.
Refugee organizations warned that such a proposal could undermine decades of bipartisan support for humanitarian resettlement. The Trump administration previously paused the program on his first day in office and has kept it largely inactive. A separate initiative to resettle Afrikaner farmers was announced in February, though South African officials dispute claims of discrimination.
Advocates said more than 128,000 refugees awaiting resettlement could be sidelined under the new cap. Lawmakers accused the administration of defying refugee law and abandoning a system built to assist the world’s most vulnerable.
The administration has not yet submitted the proposed limit to Congress, despite missing a legal deadline last week. Thousands of refugees who have already passed security screenings remain in limbo. Critics say the plan would drastically shift U.S. refugee policy by favoring one group over others.
Refugee organizations warned that such a proposal could undermine decades of bipartisan support for humanitarian resettlement. The Trump administration previously paused the program on his first day in office and has kept it largely inactive. A separate initiative to resettle Afrikaner farmers was announced in February, though South African officials dispute claims of discrimination.
Advocates said more than 128,000 refugees awaiting resettlement could be sidelined under the new cap. Lawmakers accused the administration of defying refugee law and abandoning a system built to assist the world’s most vulnerable.
