US focuses on persecution claims as white South Africans seek resettlement

By Tim Cocks, Nellie Peyton, Ted Hesson and Kristina Cooke

U.S. officials have interviewed white South Africans seeking refugee status about their troubles with land disputes, crime and perceived racism, while refugees from other countries are being deported or barred from the United States.

Some of the South African applicants have taken part in a first round of interviews in Pretoria, three of them told Reuters, describing positive encounters with U.S. officials who seemed well disposed towards them and their accounts of persecution.

More than 30 applicants have already been approved, according to a person familiar with the matter.

“The staff at the embassy were exceptionally friendly,” said Mark, a South African farmer who did not wish his family name to be published as the process is confidential. “I could feel they had empathy.”

The U.S. administration and embassy in Pretoria declined to comment or give numbers of interviews and approvals.

U.S. President Donald Trump