South Africa Detains Kenyans Engaged in U.S. Refugee Application Work
South African authorities announced on Wednesday that they had detained and would deport seven Kenyan citizens who were unlawfully employed at a facility handling refugee applications for the United States. President Trump has significantly reduced the number of refugees that the U.S. is willing to take, while also giving priority to white Afrikaners, the descendants of Dutch, German, and French settlers in South Africa, after inaccurately asserting that they were victims of genocide. Law enforcement agents in South Africa apprehended the Kenyans on Tuesday during an operation at a processing facility in Johannesburg, according to a statement from the Department of Home Affairs. The statement noted that they had arrived in South Africa using tourist visas and were working illegally “at a center processing the applications of so-called ‘refugees’ to the United States.” The seven Kenyans will be barred from reentering South Africa for five years. The Department of Home Affairs remarked that their requests to be employed in South Africa had been previously denied and confirmed that no American officials faced detention. These arrests arrive amidst dwindling relations between South Africa and the Trump administration, particularly due to the policy of favoring Afrikaners. Mr. Trump has leveraged his assertion that they are undergoing racial persecution to impose sanctions on South Africa, including significant tariffs, reductions in aid, and making Afrikaners one of the few groups eligible for refugee status in the U.S. In November, the president opted not to participate in the Group of 20 summit in South Africa due to the Afrikaner situation, stating that the country would be unwelcome at the U.S. event next year. “We are seeking immediate clarification from the South African government and expect full cooperation and accountability,” Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the State Department, mentioned in a statement. “Interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable,” he added. South African officials indicated that the arrest of the Kenyans was part of efforts to combat illegal immigration. Over the previous year, the government has intensified operations against undocumented migrants, and politicians from various parties have focused on immigration as a means to attract voters. The Department of Home Affairs stated that the raid illustrates South Africa’s mutual dedication with the United States to “combat illegal immigration and visa abuse in all its forms.” “The involvement of foreign officials apparently collaborating with undocumented workers inevitably raises significant concerns regarding intent and diplomatic protocol,” it concluded. Zimasa Matiwane and Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting.
Published: 2025-12-17 13:30:00
source: www.nytimes.com
