South African Immigration and Law Enforcement Officers Raid US Refugee Processing Center, Arrest Seven Kenyans

South African immigration and law-enforcement officers raided a Johannesburg centre that had been processing applications for a new U.S. refugee programme.

“South African authorities say a center processing applications for the United States refugee program was raided by immigration and law enforcement officers and seven Kenyan nationals were arrested for working there illegally JOHANNESBURG --A center in South Africa processing applications forthe United States refugee programwas raided by immigration and law enforcement officers and seven Kenyan nationals were arrested for working there illegally, South Africa's Home Affairs Ministry said Wednesday”

ABC News

They arrested seven Kenyan nationals accused of working on tourist visas and issued deportation orders, the Home Affairs Ministry said.

ABC News

Authorities described the operation as part of enforcement against visa abuse and illegal employment.

Officials said the site was not a diplomatic mission and no U.S. officials were detained at the scene.

The arrests and subsequent deportation orders risk further straining already tense U.S.–South Africa relations amid controversy over the relocation programme.

The centre was handling applications from white South Africans, largely Afrikaners, who were given priority under a Trump administration initiative.

The U.S. Embassy acknowledged contracting RSC Africa, a Kenya-based arm of Church World Service, to process the applications.

Al Jazeera

South Africa disputed that Afrikaners are being persecuted but said it would not block relocation applications.

The episode intensified scrutiny of the programme and the contractor arrangement.

Coverage noted the involvement of a Kenya-based NGO contractor.

It raised questions about why Kenyan nationals were working at a Johannesburg site on tourist visas instead of with formal work permits.

Officials repeatedly emphasized immigration-law breaches, with South Africa’s Home Affairs Ministry saying the Kenyans had entered on tourist visas and had previously been denied work permits.

“Refugees from South Africa, arrive Monday, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va”

Associated Press

The arrested workers received deportation orders and multi-year re-entry bans.

Pretoria framed the raid as an intelligence-led part of an 18-month crackdown on visa abuse and illegal employment.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation opened formal talks with the U.S. and Kenya to resolve diplomatic concerns.

The State Department called South African interference in refugee operations "unacceptable" and demanded clarification and cooperation, deepening the diplomatic row.

The episode sits amid a politically charged backdrop.

The Trump administration’s decision to prioritise mainly white Afrikaners for relocation has been highly controversial, prompting diplomatic complaints and accusations about claims of persecution.

BarristerNG

Outlets note that the policy has already flown some Afrikaners to the U.S., and proposals for larger allocations (figures vary across reporting) have aggravated tensions.

Commentary ranges from sober reporting of the procedural fallout to sharper criticism of the policy’s basis in disputed claims of persecution.

Reporting diverges on some factual points and emphasis.

“South Africa has accused the US of using Kenyan nationals withoutwork permits at a facility processing applications by white South Africans for refugee status”

BBC

It is unclear from available accounts whether U.S. officials at the site knew the Kenyan staff lacked work authorisation.

BBC

Outlets disagree about whether any U.S. personnel were detained.

Breitbart, quoting Reuters, says two USCIS officers were briefly detained and released.

AP, ABC News, New Indian Express and other outlets report that no U.S. officials were detained.

South Africa stresses legal enforcement and sovereignty.

U.S. statements describe the action as unacceptable interference.

Formal diplomatic talks have been opened between Pretoria, Washington and Nairobi to resolve outstanding questions.