Trump administration spends billions to deport Black and brown people while doubling dollars for white ‘refugees’
‘Where the wealthiest country in the world allocates money has always been a question of political will over political way’
TL;DR
- The US is resettling predominantly white South Africans, admitting 10,258 in FY 2025-2026, with all but three being white South Africans.
- The Trump administration is reportedly doubling initial resettlement support for refugees to $4,500 per person.
- This contrasts with the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians and the lack of pathways to citizenship for groups like Haitians, Venezuelans, and Somalis.
- Resettled refugees are one of the few immigrant categories receiving cash assistance, theoretically based on humanitarian need.
- The article posits that historical US policies, from the Progressive Era to recent welfare reforms, have shown a bias towards white immigrants and against people of color.
- The 'welfare queen' caricature and the push for 'self-sufficiency' are cited as examples of policies that disproportionately affected poor families of color.
- White South Africans are eligible for doubled initial assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Refugee Cash Assistance, with a path to legal permanent residency and citizenship.
- TPS holders, like Haitians, were never eligible for such support, despite paying taxes into the system.
- The article concludes that the administration's actions demonstrate a prioritization of white lives, evidenced by increased spending on white refugees while deporting Black and brown individuals.