“I Want to Give Back”: Afrikaner Refugees Arrive in US With Hopes of a New Life

Forty-two South African Afrikaners from 18 families have arrived in the United States under President Donald Trump’s refugee resettlement programme, with some expressing their desire to build new lives and contribute to their new home.

The group landed at Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday evening, 20 October 2026, marking the latest arrival under the programme. According to The Daily Wire, which reported on the arrivals on 21 October, the initiative has brought more than 17,000 South Africans to the US since Trump signed an executive order in February 2025.

Among the arrivals were individuals who described experiences of loss, fear and uncertainty in South Africa, while expressing hope for a fresh start in America.

Tina Burger, who arrived with her second husband, Fred, shared a deeply personal account of the tragedy that shaped her life. Her first husband, a farmer, was murdered by an unknown attacker nearly three decades ago, just one week before she gave birth.

Despite the painful experience, Burger said she wanted to focus on giving back to the country that had welcomed her and her family.

“I want to mean something. I want to give something of myself to your country to say thank you for what you are doing for me,” she told The Daily Wire.

Her remarks highlighted the desire among some of the new arrivals to contribute to American society rather than simply seek refuge.

Another refugee, who chose to remain anonymous, also spoke about his experiences in South Africa. He said he was not expecting special treatment but wanted the opportunity to live and work on an equal footing with others.

The man also revealed that he knew three people who had been murdered in South Africa in recent years, adding to the concerns he cited when discussing his decision to leave the country.

Meanwhile, a young mother among the arrivals reportedly described how fear had influenced her family’s daily life in South Africa.

She explained that her children’s activities had largely been restricted to school, church and home because of concerns about their safety. The family hoped their move to the United States would offer them greater freedom and the opportunity to experience a different way of life.

The arrivals come amid ongoing debate surrounding the Trump administration’s decision to resettle white South Africans under its refugee programme. The policy has drawn international attention, particularly over the administration’s claims about the circumstances facing Afrikaners in South Africa.

The South African government has disputed the characterisation of white Afrikaners as a group facing persecution, maintaining that the country’s challenges, including violent crime, affect people across racial and socioeconomic groups.

Nevertheless, for the 42 new arrivals, the immediate focus appears to be settling into their new surroundings and starting the next chapter of their lives.

Burger’s commitment to contribute to the United States reflects the hopes expressed by some members of the group as they begin adjusting to life in a new country.

For Burger, the move represents not only an opportunity to seek security but also a chance to give something back to the country that has opened its doors to her.

“I Want to Give Back:” Afrikaner ‘Refugees’ Arrive in US, Ready to Contribute – Briefly.co.za

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