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The Trump administration on Thursday set the U.S. refugee admissions cap for fiscal year 2026 at 7,500, the lowest in the program’s history, according to a rule published in the Federal Register.
The cap marks a sharp decline from prior administrations. During his first year in office, Trump set the limit at 11,814, which was then the lowest on record. By contrast, both the Obama and George W. Bush administrations accepted between 70,000 and 80,000 refugees annually. Former President Joe Biden raised the cap to 125,000 during his term, according to The Hill.
The U.S. has admitted only 27,000 refugees in 2025, with many of the cases started during the Biden administration, the outlet added.
In the notice, Trump said the new cap prioritizes “victims of illegal or unjust discrimination,” specifically citing white Afrikaners in South Africa.
“The admissions numbers shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa pursuant to Executive Order 14204, and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands,” Trump wrote. “The admissions of up to 7,500 refugees to the United States during Fiscal Year 2026 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.”
Administration officials have accused South Africa’s government of promoting “anti-white” policies through affirmative action laws. South Africa’s leaders have rejected the allegations as false. In May, the U.S. accepted 49 white South Africans under the refugee program.
President Trump’s directive also follows the administration’s decision to revoke refugee eligibility for groups from several countries, including Sudan, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
The refugee resettlement program, established under the Refugee Act of 1980, is intended to offer protection to individuals fleeing war or persecution. The steep cut to admissions reflects Trump’s broader immigration policies, which emphasize his “America First” national security and prioritize applicants facing religious or ethnic discrimination.
