• A second group of nine white South Africans has arrived in the U.S. under a refugee program.
• Initial arrivals included 59 people in May, continuing amid political controversy.
• The Trump administration claims Afrikaners face persecution in South Africa, a view contested by the South African government.

A second group of white South Africans arrived in the United States under a refugee program announced by the Trump administration, with nine individuals landing late last week, including families and children, according to Los Angeles Times and India Times. Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement, confirmed their arrival.

The inaugural group of 59 white South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport in May, part of a resettlement program designed for those the Trump administration claims are victims of racially motivated persecution. Despite these allegations, the South African government has firmly denied claims of violence against Afrikaners, labeling them as a mischaracterization, reports India Times and Newsweek.

The U.S. Embassy has stated that they will continue reviewing applications from individuals interested in resettling and has mentioned around 8,000 requests in total, according to Los Angeles Times and Newsweek. Kleynhans indicated that the new arrivals are settling in various states, particularly in the southern U.S.

The Trump administration's program, which came amidst the suspension of other refugee admissions, has generated significant political discourse. Critics claim that it is politically motivated and aimed at questioning South Africa's democratic credentials, a sentiment echoed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who insisted that "there's no genocide in South Africa," according to Newsweek.

Supporters of the program, however, including White House officials, believe it addresses a legitimate concern regarding racially motivated violence against Afrikaners, framing it as a return to the original purpose of refugee programs, as stated by Newsweek and reiterated by various U.S. Embassy spokespersons.