In an internal inquiry that has sparked fresh debate over race and immigration policy, U.S. diplomats reportedly asked whether non-white South Africans would be eligible for a refugee program quietly floated during the Trump administration.
The program, aimed at providing refugee status to South Africans facing persecution, was originally framed around claims of violence against white farmers — a narrative promoted by far-right media and amplified by President Trump in 2018. Now, newly revealed diplomatic cables and testimonies suggest that U.S. officials sought clarity on whether the program would extend protections to South Africans of color also facing threats or violence.
One diplomatic source familiar with the communications said, “There were real questions raised about the racial parameters of the program. The language being used strongly implied a racial lens, and some within the department were uncomfortable with that.” 
The issue highlights ongoing concerns that the refugee system was being selectively politicized during the Trump years, with racial or ideological criteria informally shaping eligibility. Critics argue this approach distorted the humanitarian intent of U.S. asylum laws and fueled racial divisions both at home and abroad.
While the program was never formally implemented, the internal questions reflect the broader debates within the State Department at the time — and raise new scrutiny about how race factored into U.S. foreign policy decisions.
The State Department has declined to comment on the specifics but said refugee admissions “are based on vulnerability and persecution, not race.”
This revelation comes amid a broader reevaluation of the Trump administration’s immigration legacy, as the current administration faces calls to ensure future refugee programs are rooted in clear, equitable criteria.
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