South African Police Raid US Refugee Site

South African police have raided a U.S. refugee processing center in the country, briefly detaining U.S. staff who have been handling applications from white Afrikaner refugees.

The Hill reported that the raid is expected to heighten tensions between the two nations, as the Trump administration has repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of South Africa's white minority.

The State Department confirmed that the office had been searched. The South African Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

Although the center is staffed by U.S. refugee officers, it is not an embassy and therefore is not considered U.S. sovereign territory.

President Donald Trump earlier this year set the lowest refugee admissions cap in U.S. history, directing that most of the 7,500 available slots be allocated to white South Africans.

Critics have argued the move misuses the refugee program, which is traditionally open to people of all nationalities who are fleeing danger or persecution regardless of race.

Trump has repeatedly said Afrikaners face "hateful rhetoric" and "disproportionate violence," and in setting the refugee cap directed that "the admissions numbers shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa."

He has said the program should be open to Afrikaners facing "illegal or unjust discrimination," a standard that differs from current refugee criteria based on conflict, violence, or persecution.

South Africa's government has rejected Trump's claims, calling them completely false.

The Associated Press reported in October that South African leaders criticized the Trump administration's refugee policy shift.

The AP reported that South Africa said the issue had contributed to a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations, with Trump suspending U.S. financial aid to South Africa and imposing high tariffs on South African exports.

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