The Episcopal Church mentioned Monday it might not assist resettle white South African refugees within the U.S. due to its “commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.”
The denomination cited its ethical opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa categorised as refugees by President Trump’s administration as the explanation behind the choice to withdraw from the US Refugee Admissions Program.
Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, arrive Monday, Might 12, 2025, at Dulles Worldwide Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photograph/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe — the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church — instructed church membership the administration had made it identified they might be anticipated to resettle white Afrikaners as a part of beforehand agreed-to deal.
The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an opponent of apartheid is South Africa, was one of many leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is part. The church utterly divested from firms that do enterprise within the county within the Eighties.
“In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,” Rowe wrote in a letter. “Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.”
“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees [the Afrikaners], selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” Rowe wrote.
Shortly after the letter was revealed a constitution airplane with 59 Afrikaners landed at Dulles Worldwide Airport close to Washington, D.C.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau greets Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, Monday, Might 12, 2025, at Dulles Worldwide Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photograph/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Rowe mentioned it might use its sources to assist immigrants and refugees in different methods. Shortly after his inauguration, President Trump froze most refugee packages and stopped funds to organizations.
Numerous faith-based refugee resettlement teams are suing the administration.
Nonetheless, the administration additionally fast-tracked refugee standing to white South Africans, who jumped forward of different would-be refugees who had been present process years of vetting and processing.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who was a part of the delegation that acquired the brand new refugees at Dulles, mentioned they have been accepted as a result of they might be “assimilated easily.”
The South Africa’s Black-led authorities and plenty of white non secular leaders within the nation have denied the Trump administration’s claims of white Afrikaners going through discrimination within the nation.
