Trump sets refugee cap at 7,500 migrants per year, lowest on record

The Federal Register on Thursday published a rule from the Trump administration that sets the refugee admissions cap at 7,500 for the 2026 fiscal year, marking the lowest on record. 

President Donald Trump set the refugee cap at 11,814 during his first year in office in his first administration, which was the previous record for lowest admissions, while the Obama administration and second George Bush administration had their admissions cap for refugees set between 70,000 and 80,000. Former President Joe Biden had his cap at 125,000, per The Hill.

The refugee program typically accepts foreigners who are fleeing a war-torn country or other serious dangers, but Trump said the priorities for 2026 should go to people facing discrimination, like 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 in the notice. "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."

The Trump administration has accused South African leaders of passing racist, anti-white policies through affirmative action laws, and accepted 49 white South Africans into the country in May. South Africa has denied the allegations.

The actions also come after the administration has revoked refugee status for other countries, such as migrants from Sudan, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.