The decades-old U.S. refugee program could see an overhaul under the Trump administration that would give preference to English speakers, white South Africans and Europeans who oppose migration, according to a report in The New York Times. The administration is reportedly considering slashing the program to its bare bones.
The Times obtained documents detailing the administration’s proposals. Officials in the State and Homeland Security departments presented them to the White House in April and July.
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The proposals come after President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to look into the current refugee program and determine whether it should continue. The Times said there is no set timetable for approving or rejecting the proposals.
What the proposals entail
The plans call for a new emphasis on whether applicants would be able to assimilate into the U.S. Applicants would be directed to take classes on “American history and values.” They’d also have to show “respect for cultural norms,” according to the Times.
The proposals also advise Trump to prioritize Europeans who have been “targeted for peaceful expression of views online, such as opposition to mass migration or support for ‘populist’ political parties.”
In addition, the proposals recommend imposing limits on the number of refugees who can resettle in communities where a high number of immigrants already reside.
Other changes include enhanced security vetting, including expanding DNA tests for children to ensure they’re related to the people they are traveling with.
According to the Times, Trump enacted some of the proposals before the plans were even presented to him. This includes slashing refugee admissions and offering priority status to white South Africans, known as Afrikaners.
The documents note a belief that America’s acceptance of refugees has made the country too diverse.
“The sharp increase in diversity has reduced the level of social trust essential for the functioning of a democratic polity,” one of the documents reads. It says the administration should only welcome “refugees who can fully and appropriately assimilate, and are aligned with the president’s objectives.”
The administration argues that accepting thousands of refugees from all over the world would overwhelm American communities, which they say have already requested federal assistance in response to migrants.
Immediate backlash
After the Times published its article, comments critiquing the proposals started flooding in.
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., took to X, saying, “And we wonder why young Republicans feel emboldened to use openly racist language.” His comment referred to leaked text messages that exposed racist, sexist and violent language used by members of the Young Republicans organization.
Activist Phil Robertson also posted on X, saying, “Basically, Trump plans to conform the US refugee system to fit his racist, white supremacist views. Shame!”
The Times also included a statement from Barbara Strack, a former chief of the refugee affairs division at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations. She said the plans expose the president’s vision for what America should look like.
“It reflects a preexisting notion among some in the Trump administration as to who are the true Americans,” Strack said. “And they think it’s white people and they think it’s Christians.”
