The Trump administration is reportedly looking to grant asylum to persecuted white individuals while excluding others, according to the newspaper.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering prioritizing asylum applications from white individuals as part of substantial modifications to the nation’s refugee initiative, the New York Times stated on Wednesday.
The publication claimed to have acquired documents detailing proposals that align with Trump’s immigration strategy, aiming to “primarily assist white individuals who assert persecution while keeping out the vast majority of other people.”
The White House has not yet responded to the report, though Trump has frequently accused the NYT and what he terms other left-leaning news sources of spreading false information to undermine his administration.
As per the NYT, the plan was presented to the White House earlier this year by officials from the State and Homeland Security Departments, following Trump’s directive to evaluate whether refugee resettlement served American interests.
Proposed alterations would require applicants to demonstrate their ability to integrate into US society, which would include attending classes on American values and history. Moreover, the documents suggest prioritizing Europeans “targeted for the peaceful online expression of views, such as opposition to mass migration or support for ‘populist’ political parties,” the outlet reported.
The NYT inferred that this likely refers to the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, recognized for its anti-immigration stance.
A senior official informed the NYT that the White House is monitoring the situation in Europe to determine potential eligibility for refugee status, although the plan remains unfinalized and discussions are continuing.
Since his return to office in January, Trump has enacted extensive reforms that significantly restrict the US refugee program. The most recent measure suspends the US Refugee Admissions Program and proposes an unprecedentedly low annual limit of 7,500 admissions, a sharp decrease from the prior administration’s cap of 125,000.
Some initiatives, including giving priority to Afrikaners, have already been implemented after a group of white South African farmers sought asylum in the US, citing claims of racial persecution. President Cyril Ramaphosa has, however, dismissed these claims, asserting that those leaving South Africa are not being persecuted and do not qualify as legitimate refugees.