South Africa has accused the United States of employing Kenyan nationals without valid work permits at a facility involved in processing refugee applications for white South Africans seeking asylum abroad, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
According to a statement from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, seven Kenyan nationals were arrested following intelligence reports that individuals had entered the country on tourist visas and subsequently taken up employment illegally. The arrests reportedly took place at a centre linked to the processing of refugee applications for white South Africans, commonly referred to as Afrikaners, who are being considered for resettlement in the United States.
South African authorities said the individuals were in violation of immigration and labour laws, stressing that all foreign nationals working in the country must possess valid permits, regardless of the nature of their employer or the sensitivity of the work involved. The department described the enforcement action as routine and necessary to uphold the rule of law.
The United States reacted sharply to the arrests, accusing South Africa of interfering with its refugee admissions process. US officials defended the facility’s operations and reiterated Washington’s position that Afrikaners qualify for refugee protection due to what it describes as persecution and targeted discrimination in South Africa.
That claim has been firmly rejected by the South African government, which has repeatedly stated that there is no systemic persecution of white South Africans. Pretoria has argued that crime in the country affects all communities and should not be framed along racial lines, describing the US refugee offer as politically motivated and factually inaccurate.
The dispute highlights growing strain in relations between the two countries, particularly around issues of migration, sovereignty, and differing interpretations of human rights conditions within South Africa. While the United States maintains that its asylum policy is based on humanitarian concerns, South African officials insist that such narratives undermine the country’s constitutional order and social cohesion.
As investigations continue into the immigration status of those arrested, the incident has opened a broader debate about foreign involvement in sensitive domestic matters and the balance between diplomatic engagement and national law enforcement. Whether the disagreement will be resolved through quiet diplomacy or deepen into a prolonged diplomatic standoff remains to be seen.
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