South African immigration officials have conducted a raid on a centre in Johannesburg that processes applications for a United States refugee programme, leading to the arrest of seven Kenyan nationals.
Details of the Johannesburg Raid
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, targeted a facility handling applications from white South Africans under a controversial US programme established by the Trump administration. This programme prioritises granting refugee status in America to white South Africans, a policy based on President Donald Trump's claims of persecution against the Afrikaner minority, which the South African government firmly rejects.
The South African Home Affairs Ministry stated that the seven Kenyan individuals were working at the site alongside American officials but had entered the country on tourist visas, which prohibit employment. No US officials were detained during the action, as the location was not considered a diplomatic site.
Contractor Questions and Diplomatic Fallout
The ministry revealed that Kenyan nationals had previously been denied visas to travel to South Africa to work on this specific US programme. It has now launched formal inquiries into why individuals on tourist visas were working at the application centre. "The presence of foreign nationals apparently coordinating with undocumented workers naturally raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol," the ministry said in a statement.
According to the US Embassy in South Africa, the American government contracted a Kenya-based company, RSC Africa, to manage the refugee applications. RSC Africa is operated by Church World Service, a US-based NGO. The Home Affairs ministry has initiated "formal diplomatic engagements" with both the United States and Kenya to resolve the matter.
Deportations and Escalating Tensions
The seven Kenyan workers have been issued with deportation orders and banned from re-entering South Africa for five years. This incident is certain to heighten existing diplomatic strains between Pretoria and Washington. Since returning to office, President Trump has been vocally critical of South Africa's government, accusing it of persecuting white citizens and pursuing an anti-American foreign policy.
South Africa's official position maintains that its white citizens do not face persecution and therefore do not meet international criteria for refugee status. However, it has stated it will not prevent individuals from applying under the US scheme.
