The United States government announced new visa restrictions targeting certain foreign nationals linked to policies that Washington considers racially discriminatory, including land expropriations without compensation and incitement to violence against minorities in South Africa.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on September 15 that the measure will apply to individuals deemed responsible for or complicit in the enactment or implementation of laws and policies that permit land expropriation without compensation, racial discrimination, or incitement to imminent violence against ethnic or racial minority groups.
The Trump administration maintains that the South African government has not adequately addressed concerns raised by Washington regarding the situation of Afrikaners and other minorities. Rubio linked the new policy to U.S. accusations concerning rural crime, race-related legislation, and South African land reform.
The restrictions will be implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to declare a person inadmissible when their entry into the country could have adverse consequences for U.S. foreign policy. Some family members of those affected could also be included.
The South African government, for its part, rejects accusations of persecution or discrimination against the white population and maintains that its policies must be understood within the context of inequalities inherited from apartheid. Reuters reported that Pretoria has also challenged Washington's claims of alleged persecution of whites in the country.
To date, the U.S. announcement does not publicly identify specific individuals who would be subject to the new restrictions.
