US Government Charter Flight Takes Africans to the US: NPR

JOHANNESBURG, S.A. — A group of 49 white Africans who have been granted refugee status by the Trump administration departed South Africa on a charter flight paid by the US government on Sunday night and are scheduled to arrive at Dulles Airport on Monday.

Africans, descendants of Dutch settlers, were seen in trolleys filled with suitcases at Johannesburg airports, but refused to speak to the media. They are expected to hold a press conference upon arrival in the United States, where they are greeted by US authorities.

One document seen by NPR said upon arrival there was food and “items for children”. The Virginia Catholic Parish Office of Refugee Services said it is on the ground to provide assistance. After the press conference, the family sets out for an end in several states, including Minnesota, Nevada and Idaho.

South Africans now have a path to US citizenship and are eligible for government benefits.

Another document seen by the NPR contained detailed guidance for the South Africans who arrived. American African families who have recognized refugee status are asked to help them. Those who had no family in the country said “will be located where local organizations exist to provide support to you.”

“Your case manager will pick you up from the airport and take you to the home they arranged for you. This home may be temporary, but local organizations will help you identify longer-term homes,” it said.

South Africans also said, “We are expected to support ourselves quickly in finding jobs. Adults are expected to accept entry-level employment in areas such as warehouse, manufacturing, and customer service.

However, the document stated that “credentials from your home country may not automatically move to the US.” That final point will be of interest to many African applicants. Some of them are farmers and previously told NPR they want to continue farming in the US.

South Africans are incredible

The resettlement effort came after President Trump signed an executive order in February claiming that minority Africans were being treated unfairly in South Africa, providing US resettlement in Trump and cutting off aid to South Africa.

Trump also says that the South African government is taking land from Africans, but there is no evidence of this. The South African government passed the Land Reform Act earlier this year, allowing it for expropriation without compensation in rare circumstances, but zero land was seized. In fact, white South Africans make up about 7% of the population, but they still own about 70% of the commercial farmland.

The South African government was surprised by Trump's attack. A spokesman for President Ramaphosa denounced Washington after learning from news reports that the first group of Africans were recognized for refugee status and headed to the United States.

“These people, although under the false narrative, can't stop going,” spokesman Vincent Magwenia told NPR. “There is no legal or de facto basis for an executive order sanctioning this case. In this case, there is no provision in international law regarding the definition of refugees.”

“Indiscriminately, we must acknowledge that our sovereignty as a nation has been severely damaged and infringed by the United States,” Magwenia added.

And it was not only the South African government that expressed disagreement. Many South Africans (black and white) are incredible in the bars with small right-wing minorities. When Nelson Mandela led multi-ethnic democracy, 30 years after the end of the apartheid racist system (Africa policy), NPR spoke to the public who were concerned about racial relations.

Many South Africans will post memes and comedy videos on social media, questioning the claims that white people leaving the US are being persecuted, and jokingly miss “privileged life, domestic workers, beach vacations.”

However, not all Africans in South Africa are thriving. And, like people on the racial spectrum, there are people who suffer from violent crimes and attacks. These are probably the stories they tell when they arrive at Dulles.

American refugee advocates point out how unusual it is for Africans to be dealt with so quickly. There was about three months between Trump's executive order and the departure of the first group to the US. In many cases, applications for refugee status in the United States can take years to process.

A US government official who was not allowed to speak to the media told NPR that he thought up what was happening in the “immigration scam” in this case.

The arrival of Africans comes after Trump effectively suspended the US refugee enrollment program in January.

“Nationwide, resettlement agencies for refugees have shut down or cut staff, and for refugees flying to the US, their travel approvals have been cancelled, thousands of people waiting and at risk,” Kenn Speicher, who founded Nova refugees, a DC-Region support network, told NPR.