Guest Perspective: U.S. Favors White South African Immigrants While Excluding Others

On May 12, the initial contingent of White South Africans, referred to as Afrikaners, landed at Dulles Airport, greeted by U.S. officials. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced that the 59 arrivals on the chartered flight had undergone expedited reviews lasting under three months, in stark contrast to the prolonged processes faced by refugees from nations such as Afghanistan and Sudan. President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized the U.S. for misunderstanding the motives behind these departures, attributing them to resistance against policies addressing longstanding racial disparities born from apartheid. This oppressive regime, enforced by the Afrikaner minority from 1948 to the 1990s, entrenched systemic racism, displacing communities and denying rights to the Black majority. The implications of selective refugee policies echo unsettling historical patterns, highlighting a need for vigilance against racism in all its manifestations.