Just when you thought the federal government was against refugees coming to the United States, we learn there’s an exception: White refugees are welcome, particularly if they come from Elon Musk’s home country.
All others, not so much.
A group of 59 White South African refugees arrived Monday in the U.S. under President Trump’s executive order specifying that they not only be admitted into the country but be prioritized for resettlement — even as the majority of refugees don’t receive anywhere near the same treatment. Trump claimed the Afrikaners were “refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation.”
A red-carpet welcome for White refugees
Not only were the Afrikaners, descendants of mainly Dutch colonists, admitted — they underwent expedited reviews that took months, and were brought to the U.S. on a government-chartered flight. They were even greeted at Dulles International Airport by federal officials. None of this is standard operating procedure in the refugee resettlement program, which can take years to process. But if you’re White …
“As blatantly a double standard as one can get,” the Rev. Al Sharpton called it, especially from a president who referred to other African countries as “s–thole countries” and asked why the U.S. couldn’t get more refugees from Norway. The Episcopal Church agreed with Sharpton’s sentiments.
Episcopal Church decries preferential treatment
Citing moral opposition to resettling White Afrikaners at the expense of those already in line, the church on Monday announced it would terminate its partnership with the government to resettle refugees.
“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” wrote Most Rev. Sean Rowe, the presiding bishop of the church, adding that others including the Afghans and Christians fleeing persecution have been denied refuge.
“In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,” Rowe said. “Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.”
One of the first things Trump did upon reassuming the Oval Office was to temporarily pause the refugee resettlement program. Various agencies, including the State Department, have also paused disbursing funding for critical services such as the home, job and school assistance the Afrikaners are poised to receive.
Refugees already cleared to arrive in the U.S. had flights cancelled. That included Afghans who worked with the U.S. military, a move that some Republicans have criticized. Judges have ordered the government to at least resume the refugee program for those who had already been approved to travel, but the administration is fighting the court order.
