President Donald Trump opened the door to white Afrikaner refugees—but one of them was detained upon landing in the U.S.
President Donald Trump opened the door to white Afrikaner refugees—but one of them was detained upon landing in the U.S.A white Afrikaner thought he could seek asylum in the U.S. after President Donald Trump offered them refugee status—but instead was detained upon arrival.
Benjamin Schoonwinkel, a 59-year-old white Afrikaner, flew from Johannesburg to Atlanta in September after Trump openly embraced white South Africans he said were facing violence and offered them refugee status. But when Schoonwinkel landed in the U.S. on a tourist visa and told American border agents that he was seeking asylum, he was detained and later thrown into a federal detention facility in rural Georgia, where the Trump administration is holding immigrants who were swept up in its crackdown, according to“I never expected this to happen,” he told the outlet, which noted that he appeared and sounded unwell during a video interview from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.“When I saw President Trump brought some Afrikaners to the U.S., I contacted Ben,” Taylor told the Times. “I said, ‘I think this is a good time for you to come here.’ Ben had the money and means to get a good start and make it here.”Taylor, 63, said he was shocked by his friend’s arrest: “We thought he was doing it the right way.” Schoonwinkel decided to come to the U.S. on his own rather than go through the refugee program. He told the outlet that he did not understand it to be a requirement and had gotten advice that seeking asylum would be similar to going through the refugee program. Schoonwinkel said in his asylum application that he was persecuted in South Africa based on his race, political opinion, and membership in a particular social group, according to the Times. But the documents supporting his claim were confiscated by U.S. authorities, including his passport.Marty Rosenbluth, Schoonwinkel’s lawyer, argued that his due process rights were violated. Schoonwinkel expects to get a hearing date next month. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed in a statement to the Daily Beast that Schoonwinkel came to the U.S. on a tourist visa and claimed asylum at a port of entry. “Anyone who claims asylum at a port of entry is subject to mandatory detention while the government investigates their claims,” she said. “If their claims are found to be valid, they will be granted relief. If they are found to not be valid, they are swiftly removed.”, Trump signed an executive order directing officials to prioritize the resettlement of Afrikaners, who are descendants of European—mostly Dutch—settlers.“Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white,” Trump said earlier this year. “But whether they’re white or Black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa, and the newspapers and the media, television media, doesn’t even talk about it.”“All admitted Afrikaner refugees have demonstrated a persecution claim and have been strictly vetted in accordance with the procedures of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program—before their arrival in the United States,” she said.
Homeland-Security Border-Patrol Donald-J-Trump Trumpland Refugee Immigration
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Stephen King's 91% Rotten Tomatoes Crime Series Is the Perfect Psychological Horror To Binge This WeekendHarry Treadaway in a white hat and uniform looking intently outside of his ice cream truck.
Read more »
Construction Industry in South Texas Grapples with ICE Raids, Facing Worker Shortages and Economic ImpactThe construction industry in South Texas is experiencing significant setbacks due to ICE raids, resulting in worker shortages, project delays, and potential economic repercussions. The raids have instilled fear among construction workers, leading to decreased labor availability, with a meeting held to address the challenges faced by the industry.
Read more »
Call Of Duty Co-Creator Dies In Fiery Ferrari Crash Caught On VideoVince Zampella was driving a 296 GTS when he lost control exiting a tunnel on California’s Angeles Crest Highway
Read more »
Two ski patrollers caught in avalanche at Mammoth Mountain after big stormIt was the second time in a year that a pair of Mammoth patrollers were caught in an avalanche after doing 'mitigation work' designed to prevent deadly snow slides.
Read more »
2 Mammoth Mountain ski patrollers caught in avalanche, 1 suffers serious injuriesTwo Mammoth Mountain ski patrollers were caught in an avalanche while doing avalanche mitigation work on Friday, the resort said.
Read more »
Shoplifting duo caught in Chandler, 'miracle baby' defies oddsFrom a pair accused of trying to shoplift for their sons' Christmas gifts, to a “miracle baby' defying the odds, here's a look at your top stories on FOX10Phoenix.com for Friday, December 26, 2025.
Read more »