WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is preparing welcome bags containing an Android tablet, an American flag and copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence for white South African refugees arriving in the United States, according to government documents and officials familiar with the plans.
The bags, intended for Afrikaner refugees entering in the coming weeks, also include educational materials that discuss American history and values, The New York Times reported on June 23, citing internal documents and an administration official.
The initiative is part of a broader U.S. refugee policy under President Donald Trump that has prioritized admissions from South Africa. Since October 2025, nearly all refugees admitted to the United States have been white South Africans, with official data showing more than 6,600 such arrivals by early June 2026 and only a handful from other countries.
Details of the exact contents remain subject to finalization, the Times said. Materials are reported to include literature from conservative educational sources addressing U.S. founding principles and conditions in South Africa, though specific titles and wording were not fully detailed in available reporting.
White South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, have been granted refugee status under a Trump administration determination citing risks of racial persecution and farm attacks in South Africa. Critics, including human rights groups and the South African government, have disputed the characterization, arguing it lacks broad international consensus and diverts resources from other global refugee needs.
"The United States is providing these resources to support your day-to-day life and expand your knowledge of American history and values," a draft description of the bags stated, according to reporting on the documents.
Refugee arrivals from South Africa have been resettled in states including Texas, Florida and California. The program operates within a historically low overall U.S. refugee cap for fiscal year 2026, initially set at 7,500 before adjustments to accommodate additional South African cases.
A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, confirmed the welcome bags as part of efforts to aid integration for the approved group. No immediate comment was available from the Department on criticisms of the policy's focus.
South Africa's government has rejected the premise of systemic persecution against white citizens, describing the U.S. program as based on inaccurate claims.
As of mid-June 2026, the first groups under the expanded program continue to arrive, with the welcome bags expected to be distributed upon resettlement. Further details on implementation timelines were not immediately available.
