WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has set a new cap on refugee admissions for the fiscal year 2026, limiting the number of immigrants eligible for visas to just 7,500, the lowest since the Refugee Act of 1980.
Trump said his administration aims to reduce the number of immigrants entering the United States, adding that immigration should not harm the country’s national interests.
He also claimed that white Africans in South Africa face the threat of genocide, while the current annual refugee ceiling remains at 125,000. The Trump administration announced it would give preference to white South Africans seeking asylum.
Under the new policy, refugees will undergo stricter security screening, and all admissions will require approval from both the US State Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump had earlier issued an executive order in June regulating the entry of foreigners into the country.
Human rights groups have strongly criticised the move, saying it will further restrict America’s immigration system. Experts warn that the new policy reflects a growing shift toward exclusionary immigration practices.
