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Trump Administration Welcomes First Group of White South African Refugees Amid Controversy
Trump Administration Welcomes First Group of White South African Refugees Amid Controversy A chartered, US-funded flight carrying 59 white South Africans has landed in Washington, marking the first group of Afrikaners to be granted refugee status under a new initiative spearheaded by the Trump administration. This controversial policy has sparked criticism both in the United States and abroad, especially given the administration’s broader crackdown on global refugee admissions. The group, made up of families and individuals from South Africa’s Afrikaner minority, was greeted warmly by US officials at the airport on Monday. Some of the arrivals held small children and waved miniature American flags, with the terminal decorated in red, white, and blue balloons. Their arrival was notable not only for its symbolism but also for the speed at which their refugee applications were processed—an unusual move, considering that refugee vetting by the United States normally takes months, even years. President Donald Trump defended the expedited process, stating that white farmers in South Africa were victims of targeted violence and discrimination. “Farmers are being killed, they happen to be white, but whether they're white or black makes no difference to me,” he said when asked about the policy. He described the situation in South Africa as a “genocide” and asserted that white farmers were particularly at risk. However, the South African government has firmly denied any allegations of widespread persecution of white citizens. Officials insist that claims of racial discrimination do not meet the necessary threshold to be considered under international refugee law. “These claims are not consistent with the facts on the ground,” said a spokesperson for the South African government. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which typically oversees refugee vetting processes, confirmed it had no role in assessing this group’s eligibility for resettlement. That omission has drawn further scrutiny from immigrant rights advocates, who argue that the Trump administration’s selective application of refugee protections undermines the fairness of the system. “This initiative is profoundly unfair to the most vulnerable refugees—those fleeing war, famine, and political persecution,” said one rights group in response to the arrival. Tensions between South Africa and the United States have worsened since Trump first directed his administration to begin resettling Afrikaners, an ethnic group descended largely from Dutch settlers. In March, South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled after accusing the Trump administration of using “white victimhood as a dog whistle.” The US responded by accusing Rasool of “race-baiting.” The Trump administration has also clashed with South Africa over its domestic land reform policies. In January, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a controversial law allowing the government to seize privately owned land without compensation in some instances, provided it is considered “equitable and in the public interest.” While the South African government maintains this policy aims to redress historical injustices, the US has condemned it, alleging unlawful land seizures—a claim South Africa rejects. Further straining relations, Washington has criticized Pretoria’s stance at the International Court of Justice, where South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians—an allegation Israel firmly denies. Despite the controversy surrounding this new refugee initiative, President Trump remains steadfast in his decision, even as his administration continues to drastically limit refugee admissions from conflict zones. As this policy unfolds, it underscores the broader ideological and geopolitical divides shaping America’s immigration landscape under the Trump era. Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-05-13 -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 13 May 2025
UPDATE Arrest Warrants Imminent for Four Gang Members in Shocking Quadruple Murder and Burning Case in Trang Picture courtesy of Amarin Police are preparing to issue arrest warrants for four suspects believed to be part of a brutal gang responsible for the shocking murder and burning of four individuals in Trang province. The victims include the manager of a palm oil plantation and his staff, whose bodies were discovered burned and partially buried in a drainage canal on the plantation grounds. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1360408-manhunt-underway-after-3-victims-burnt-in-trang-tyre-fire-killing/#findComment-19796902 -
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Community Surprise Raid Uncovers Indian Hotel Party Near Pattaya
If you could smell a picture/video 🤨 -
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Trump Wants to Remove US Citizens from the US
No law, except 14th A, SCOTUS decision Afrorim v. Rusk (1967), Vance v. Terrazas (1980) These rulings established that the government cannot strip citizenship unless the individual voluntarily gives it up. But as you know quite often the government ignores the law and you have to sue them in court to uphold the law. ChatGPT: While the law protects citizens from removal, there have been documented instances of U.S. citizens being mistakenly detained or deported, often due to errors in immigration enforcement. For example, over 4,000 U.S. citizens were wrongfully caught in the immigration system in 2010 alone. Obama was president then, mmmkay. I'm no Trump supporter, but this is more about the camera on GOP TV than reality. -
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Crime Manhunt Underway After 3 Victims Burnt in Trang Tyre Fire Killing
UPDATE Arrest Warrants Imminent for Four Gang Members in Shocking Quadruple Murder and Burning Case in Trang Picture courtesy of Amarin Police are preparing to issue arrest warrants for four suspects believed to be part of a brutal gang responsible for the shocking murder and burning of four individuals in Trang province. The victims include the manager of a palm oil plantation and his staff, whose bodies were discovered burned and partially buried in a drainage canal on the plantation grounds. The incident, which has deeply shaken the local community, took place in Moo 1, Kalase Subdistrict, Sikao District. According to initial investigations, a group of at least four to five assailants, reportedly well acquainted with the victims, used firearms to shoot Mr. Surachet Luankiatkajorn, known as “Ko Chet,” aged 69, who was the manager of the palm plantation, along with two of his employees, Mr. Anan Tochonok (“Ko Piak”) 49, and Mr. Weerayut Tannula 41. Their bodies were then subjected to the horrific practice of “burning in car tyres” in a nearby drainage trench. The police later uncovered decomposed remains and partially burned body, believed to belong to a fourth unidentified victim. These were found buried roughly 200 metres from the initial crime scene. It is estimated that that victim had been deceased for approximately two to three weeks prior to discovery. At around 13:30 on 12 May, forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police brought a .45 calibre bullet recovered from an abandoned structure near the crime scene to Sikao Police Station for further analysis. The location, adjacent to the plantation managed by the victims, is believed to be where the executions were carried out before the bodies were moved and set alight. Bloodstains and other significant evidence were also recovered from this site. Police also seized an unregistered motorbike and brought it to the police station for examination. Authorities also summoned the mother and wife of a local man named Mr. Bin aged 37, for questioning. Mr. Bin, the manager of a neighbouring 36-rai palm plantation, has emerged as a prime suspect in the case. The interrogation was led personally by Pol. Maj. Gen. Pattharawit Keetmotaneeyakul, Trang Provincial Police Chief, and lasted several hours. Police have now gathered sufficient witness testimony, circumstantial evidence, and forensic findings to support their case and are preparing to submit a formal request to the Trang Provincial Court for arrest warrants for four suspects in the first round of indictments. Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-13. -
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Report Thai Schools Struggle with New Literacy-Based Curriculum Shake-Up
I bet they are, most of them go to school for the free food and to socialise.
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