White South African refugees fall foul of Republican driving rules in US midwest
Onerous and costly restrictions aimed at immigrants cause difficulties for group prioritized by Trump for admission
TL;DR
- An estimated 6,300 white South Africans have arrived in the US under a special refugee resettlement program initiated by the Trump administration.
- 206 Afrikaners have resettled in Ohio, but new driving license rules enacted in June are causing significant difficulties.
- These rules require extensive driving lessons, classroom work, and practice, costing an estimated $500 and taking up to nine months.
- Approximately half of the South African refugees in Ohio have left the state due to these restrictive driving requirements.
- The federal refugee cash assistance program has also been reduced from 12 to four months, disproportionately affecting South Africans as they are the primary recipients.
- Some South Africans are struggling with housing in Michigan and safety issues in Denver, while others have returned to South Africa.
- Afrikaners in Ohio have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help new arrivals with rent, driver's license fees, and transportation.
- Concerns have been raised about the program's focus while applications from other crisis-torn countries are suspended, and the fundraising platform's controversial associations.