Trump Sets U.S. Refugee Cap at Historic Low of 7,500 for Fiscal Year 2026
The administration’s new refugee policy focuses on select groups, signaling a major shift in U.S. asylum and resettlement priorities.
A White House document released on Thursday revealed that President Donald Trump has set the U.S. refugee admission ceiling at 7,500 for fiscal year 2026, the lowest level in history, as part of a broader effort to reshape refugee policies in the United States and globally.
According to Reuters, Trump stated in an annual refugee report dated September 30 that admissions would largely focus on white Afrikaner citizens from South Africa, claiming they face persecution based on their race in the majority-Black nation — allegations denied by the South African government.
Trump halted all refugee admissions in the United States when he took office in January, stating they could only resume if shown to serve U.S. national interests. Weeks later, he launched a campaign to bring in Afrikaners, drawing criticism from refugee advocates. By early September, only 138 South African refugees had entered the United States, according to Reuters.
Trump Administration Signals Refugee Policy Shifts and Oversight Changes
In the decision released Thursday, Trump’s administration indicated it would consider admitting “other victims of unlawful or unfair discrimination in their home countries.”
An internal document drafted by U.S. officials in April suggested prioritizing European refugees if targeted for expressing certain opinions, such as opposition to mass migration or support for populist political parties. However, Europeans or other groups were not mentioned in Trump’s general refugee plan.
During the UN General Assembly in September, senior Trump administration officials urged other countries to join a global campaign to end asylum protections, a major policy shift that could reshape post-World War II immigration frameworks.
Earlier this month, Reuters and other media outlets reported on Trump’s plan to cap refugees at 7,500 people.
In a related move, the White House announced it will transfer oversight of refugee support programs from the State Department to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
