The US State of Department – under the guidance of President Donald Trump – is hoping to expedite a number of Kenyan nationals to South Africa to assist the refugee resettlement programme for applicants, many, if not all, of whom are white Afrikaners.
However, South African authorities are reportedly pushing back on the proposed plans.
In February, Trump signed an executive order granting minorities resettlement under the programme on the grounds of “racial discrimination”.
Since then, two groups of Afrikaner people have arrived in the US, with more expected to follow.
US TO SEND KENYANS TO HELP PROCESS AFRIKANER REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT APPLICATIONS
According to the Daily Maverick, the US State Department is hoping to send 30 Kenyan nationals to South Africa to assist applicants in the refugee resettlement process.
Under the guidance of President Donald Trump, US authorities are appealing to South Africa to expedite the volunteers’ visas.
The Kenyan workers form part of the Resettlement Support Centre (RSC) Africa, which operates under the Church World Service, which is a partner of the US Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP).
Image via Pexels
The workers – who will live in South Africa for the next two years on a volunteer visa – will assist the US Embassy in South Africa.
According to the US Embassy, RSC Africa, which manages all US-bound applicants from Africa, will coordinate all communication regarding the refugee status programme application process.
This will include:
- Conducting intake and referral interviews
- Collecting applicants’ data and documentation
- Requesting background checks
- Scheduling USCIS interviews
- Arranging for medical exams
- Booking travel to the United States
Ultimately, the application will be reviewed and determined by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHORITIES PUSH BACK?
According to the Kenyan Times, Government Communication and Information System spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa denied claims that a proposal to fast-track the visas of Kenyan workers was part of the formal agenda of the last cabinet meeting.
Mnukwa also stated that no written submission was submitted for discussions in Cabinet.
In May, Department of International Relations and Cooperation Chrispin Phiri told Newzroom Africa: “The government unequivocally states that these are not refugees.
“But we are not going to stand in their way.”
SHOULD SA PERMIT KENYAN WORKERS VISAS TO ASSIST REFUGEE APPLICANTS?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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