South Africa criticizes U.S. refugee policy prioritizing Afrikaners

South Africa's government Friday criticized the U.S. refugee policy shift that gives priority to Afrikaners, the country's white minority group of Dutch descent.

- BY MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

AFRIKANER refugees arrive at Dulles International Airport in Virginia in May.

(Julia Demaree Nikhinson Associated Press)

The Trump administration on Thursday announced a ceiling of 7,500 refugees to be admitted to the United States, a sharp decrease from the previous 125,000 spots and said Afrikaners would be given preference over other groups.

U.S. President Trump has claimed that there is a "genocide" against Afrikaners in South Africa and that they are facing persecution and discrimination because of the country's redress policies and the levels of crime in the country.

It's one of the contentious issues that has seen diplomatic relations between South Africa and U.S. hit an all-time low, with Trump suspending all financial aid to South Africa and setting one of the highest tariffs for the country's exports to the U.S.