Afrikaner 'refugee' in the US: 'I left my five-bedroom house, dogs and mother behind'
Image: Screenshot/BBC
An Afrikaner man who is part of the 49 people who went over to the US as 'refugees' has spoken out about how devastating it was to leave behind his five bedroom home and other possessions while fleeing from racial persecution in South Africa.
Speaking to the BBC, Charl Kleinhaus told the media outlet that he did not go over to the US for fun but that rather, he had no choice in the matter.
"I had to leave a five-bedroom house which I will lose now because I'm not going to pay for it. I also left my car behind, my dogs, and my mother. I didn't come here for fun. But my children are safe. If you're white, you're wrong in South Africa," Kleinhaus said.
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The 'refugee' went on to say that white people are called land thieves and racist in the country. "I had nothing to do with apartheid. Nothing."
Kleinhaus, however, enjoyed being welcomed by the Donald Trump administration and said that everyone who agreed to go to the US will have to start over as they have left their wealth here in the country.
This is how the US government will assist in resettling families:
Legal entry and work authorisation: Refugees gain lawful US entry and immediate work permission via a Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) and an Employment Authorization Document.
Resettlement assistance: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) will provide the Afrikaners with initial housing, job placement, and school enrolment support through resettlement agencies.
Financial and medical aid: Eligible refugees access Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) for up to four months (post-May 2025 arrivals), covering basic needs like food and healthcare.
Federal benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may also apply.
Family reunification: Within two years, the Afrikaner refugees can file Form I-730 to petition for spouses and unmarried children under 21 to join them in the US.
Path to permanent residency: After one year, the refugees can apply for a Green Card, offering a route to citizenship.
Under 'normal' circumstances, to qualify, applicants must be outside the US (or, in rare cases, within their home country if authorised by the US President) and demonstrate past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.
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