Latest news with #ChristopherLandau
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
More white South Africans arrive in the US under a new refugee program
Deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau greets Afrikaner refugees from South Africa at Dulles International Airport (Image credit: AP) JOHANNESBURG: A second group of white South Africans has arrived in the United States under a refugee program announced by the Trump administration, officials and advocacy groups said Monday. Nine people, including families and children, arrived late last week, said Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement, a group representing members of South Africa's white Afrikaner minority. The group travelled on a commercial flight, he said. A spokesperson for the US Embassy said in an email to The Associated Press that "refugees continue to arrive in the United States from South Africa on commercial flights as part of the Afrikaner resettlement program's ongoing operations." An initial group of 59 white South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on a chartered flight last month under the new program announced by US President Donald Trump in February. The Trump administration fast-tracked the resettlement of white South Africans after indefinitely suspending other US refugee programs. The Trump administration said it is offering refugee status to white South Africans it alleges are being persecuted by their Black-led government and are victims of racially motivated violence. The South African government has denied the allegations and said they are a mischaracterization of the country. Trump has falsely claimed that white South African farmers are targeted in widespread attacks that amount to genocide and are having their land taken away. Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with those baseless claims during a meeting at the White House last month. Ramaphosa has said the relatively small number of attacks on white farmers are part of South Africa's larger problems with violent crime, which affects all races. The Trump administration initially said the refugee program was aimed at members of South Africa's Afrikaner minority, who are descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers. In new guidance published by the US Embassy last month, applicants must be "a member of a racial minority" in South Africa and "must be able to articulate a past experience of persecution or fear of future persecution." There are approximately 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa's population of 62 million, which is more than 80 per cent Black. They are not the only white minority. There are around 4.5 million whites in total, including those with British or other heritage. The US Embassy spokesperson said the US "continues to review inquiries from individuals who have expressed interest to the embassy in resettling to the United States and is reaching out to eligible individuals for refugee interviews and processing." While US officials have not said how many South Africans have applied to be relocated, Kleynhans said there have been around 8,000 applications. Another group helping white South Africans apply for refugee status has said tens of thousands have applied.
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
We're Suing the Trump Administration Over Its Refugee Double Standard
In May, the Trump administration admitted dozens of white Afrikaners into the United States as refugees. In just over three months, the administration created a new program, completed processing, and welcomed this group to the United States. The speed and ease of the admission of these Afrikaners—arriving via chartered plane, no less—was unprecedented. But, more remarkably, it happened at a time when the administration is fighting tooth and nail to close the door to all other populations seeking humanitarian protection, including by stripping protections for 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans already in the United States, a move endorsed by the Supreme Court via its shadow docket on May 30. This administration launched its attack on humanitarian protection in its very first hours. On January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the refugee admissions program and barring the entry of refugees from all over the world, including more than 12,000 people who were booked for travel shortly after Inauguration Day. Approximately 600,000 refugees had their applications frozen in place, and 130,000 of them had already been approved to resettle. As a result, families were left in dangerous limbo, in refugee camps, in hiding, separated from their loved ones. These actions blatantly violate the Refugee Act of 1980, passed with bipartisan support in Congress to create a consistent, predictable system for assisting displaced people based on humanitarian need, not political or ideological concerns. That system can be painfully slow, but it is a lifeline for those fleeing war and persecution. On behalf of eight individual refugees, several refugee resettlement organizations, and an American citizen preparing to sponsor and welcome refugees into her community, my colleagues and I at the International Refugee Assistance Project filed Pacito v. Trump, a class-action suit, in federal court. We're seeking to restore the system Congress built and to give our clients and thousands of others a fair chance to seek safety in the United States. Over the past few months, we have secured a series of court victories; decisions from federal judges in the Western District of Washington and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have required the administration to process and provide resettlement support to refugees who were approved and had travel scheduled before the suspension. But as a result of the administration's foot-dragging, very few have been able to enter, and those who have were successful only after enormous effort. DULLES, VIRGINIA - MAY 12: Newly arrived white South Africans, also called Afrikaners, are welcomed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in a hangar at Atlantic Aviation Dulles near Washington Dulles International Airport... DULLES, VIRGINIA - MAY 12: Newly arrived white South Africans, also called Afrikaners, are welcomed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in a hangar at Atlantic Aviation Dulles near Washington Dulles International Airport on May 12, 2025 in Dulles, Virginia. MoreTake our client Josephine, who fled civil war in Congo. Her mother, a refugee living in Idaho, had petitioned to reunite with Josephine eight years ago. Josephine was finally approved to travel in late January 2025. She, too, was living in South Africa while waiting for approval. "Imagine being kept apart from your family for years," she told me. "Then one day a door opens, only to shut again in your face. I wasn't sure if I was ever going to see my mom again." Josephine was joyfully reunited with her mother in March, but unlike her white Afrikaner neighbors, she needed a federal court order to resettle here. Our lead plaintiff, Pacito, also a refugee fleeing civil war in Congo, has not been so lucky. After years of processing, he, along with his wife and toddler daughter, was scheduled for travel on January 22. They sold their belongings and gave up their housing, ready for a new life in Tennessee, only to be told on January 21 that they'd been barred from travel. It's impossible not to see the disparity between the smooth processing of white Afrikaners and the lengthy waits and abrupt halts to which the United States has subjected all other refugees. President Trump has said race was not the motivation for this disparate treatment; he claims he'd admit this group even if they were Black. And yet, his administration's actions have blocked tens of thousands of approved refugees from all over the world, including Black Africans, persecuted Yazidi minorities in Iraq, and Afghan allies in hiding from the Taliban. Congress' refugee program has saved millions of lives over decades. The administration's swift and unlawful attempt to destroy it draws a stark contrast with the equally swift creation of a shadow replacement of it. The arrival of the Afrikaners lays bare the truth: this administration wants to end refugee resettlement for all but a select group. The United States has a mixed record of living up to its promise as a place of refuge. Trump is not the first president to turn away displaced people and to target nonwhite immigrants. But this administration's weaponization of the immigration system to benefit groups it favors and punish those it does not is novel in its scope and rashness. The chaos and cruelty unleashed over the last four months should remind courts, legislatures, and everyday people that the ideals of American refuge and fairness are worth fighting for. Melissa Keaney is a Senior Supervising Attorney, U.S. Litigation, at the International Refugee Assistance Project. She represents individual and organizational plaintiffs in federal litigation challenging President Trump's refugee ban. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Defence, trade and technology discussed during Indian Foreign Secretary's visit to US
New Delhi: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Washington DC from May 27 to 29, where he held a series of high-level engagements with senior officials of the US Administration. Foreign Secretary Misri held wide-ranging discussions with counterparts across the Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defence, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The visit was a follow-up to the Prime Minister's visit to the United States on February 13, during which both sides launched the India-U.S. COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century. Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor was also part of the Indian delegation. According to MEA, at a luncheon meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of the bilateral agenda. They underscored that Technology, Trade, and Talent would be the key pillars shaping the India-U.S. partnership in the 21st century. In meetings with Deputy Secretary of Defence Steve Feinberg and Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a robust and forward-looking defence partnership. Discussions focused on co-production and co-development initiatives, sustained joint military exercises, logistics and information-sharing frameworks, and enhancing interoperability between the armed forces, MEA said. Vikram Misri met with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender, the Foreign Secretary and discussed ways to deepen economic and financial ties, including collaboration in international financial institutions and coordination in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes. In his meeting with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, both sides reviewed progress on the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement, cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, and the need to streamline ITAR and export control regulations. They agreed to convene the next meeting of the India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue at the earliest opportunity, according to MEA. Consistent with the vision outlined in the COMPACT, detailed inter-agency discussions were also held on a range of strategic areas, including defence cooperation, energy security, the TRUST initiative, counter-terrorism, the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and collaboration through platforms such as the Quad, I2U2, and IMEEC. Foreign Secretary Misri, along with DNSA Kapoor, jointly chaired a roundtable with industry representatives, focusing on deepening bilateral collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. Additionally, they held a substantive interaction with members of the think tank community, covering the full breadth of the India-U.S. strategic partnership, MEA said.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
India, US to 'coordinate in the upcoming' Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes
ANI India, US to "coordinate in the upcoming" Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri engaged in several high-level engagements with senior officials of the US Administration. Misri held talks with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender, where they discussed collaboration in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes. "With Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Financial Action Task Force Financial Action Task Force, the Foreign Secretary discussed ways to deepen economic and financial ties, including collaboration in international financial institutions and coordination in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes," a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs read. Sources say India will spare no effort to bring Pakistan onto the grey list during the FATF proceedings. The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog has been informed about India's intentions. Sources say that India will send a detailed dossier to the FATF, outlining evidence and concerns regarding the involvement of certain entities and individuals in terror financing and money laundering activities. The dossier will highlight India's findings and demand strict scrutiny and action by the FATF under international protocols. Meanwhile, FS Misri held talks for the inter-agency discussions on the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century. — IndianEmbassyUS (@IndianEmbassyUS) "During his visit, Misri held wide-ranging discussions with counterparts across the Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce," the statement also held talks with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, where they agreed that Tech-Trade-Talent will shape the India-US partnership in the 21st century. — IndianEmbassyUS (@IndianEmbassyUS) — DeputySecState (@DeputySecState) "At a luncheon meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of the bilateral agenda. They underscored that Technology, Trade, and Talent would be the key pillars shaping the India-US partnership in the 21st century," the statement said."In meetings with Deputy Secretary of Defence Steve Feinberg and Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a robust and forward-looking defence partnership. Discussions focused on co-production and co-development initiatives, sustained joint military exercises, logistics and information-sharing frameworks, and enhancing interoperability between the armed forces," the statement added. — IndianEmbassyUS (@IndianEmbassyUS) Misri also held talks with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler and reviewed progress on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement."In his meeting with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, both sides reviewed progress on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, and the need to streamline ITAR and export control regulations. They agreed to convene the next meeting of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue at the earliest opportunity," the statement said. "Consistent with the vision outlined in the COMPACT, detailed inter-agency discussions were held on a range of strategic areas including defence cooperation, energy security, TRUST initiative, counter-terrorism, the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and collaboration through platforms such as the Quad, I2U2, and IMEEC," the statement added. — IndianEmbassyUS (@IndianEmbassyUS) Misri, along with US Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, also held talks on deepening bilateral collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Washington, DC from May 27-29, 2025, for a series of high-level engagements with senior officials of the US Administration. The visit was a follow-up to the Prime Minister's visit to the United States on February 13, 2025, during which both sides launched the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century. Deputy National Security Advisor Shri Pavan Kapoor was also part of the Indian delegation.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
India, US to
Washington DC [US], May 31 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri engaged in several high-level engagements with senior officials of the US Administration. Misri held talks with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender, where they discussed collaboration in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes. 'With Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Financial Action Task Force Financial Action Task Force, the Foreign Secretary discussed ways to deepen economic and financial ties, including collaboration in international financial institutions and coordination in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes,' a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs read. Sources say India will spare no effort to bring Pakistan onto the grey list during the FATF proceedings. The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog has been informed about India's intentions. Sources say that India will send a detailed dossier to the FATF, outlining evidence and concerns regarding the involvement of certain entities and individuals in terror financing and money laundering activities. The dossier will highlight India's findings and demand strict scrutiny and action by the FATF under international protocols. Meanwhile, FS Misri held talks for the inter-agency discussions on the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century. 'During his visit, Misri held wide-ranging discussions with counterparts across the Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce,' the statement said. Misri also held talks with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, where they agreed that Tech-Trade-Talent will shape the India-US partnership in the 21st century. 'At a luncheon meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of the bilateral agenda. They underscored that Technology, Trade, and Talent would be the key pillars shaping the India-US partnership in the 21st century,' the statement said. 'In meetings with Deputy Secretary of Defence Steve Feinberg and Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a robust and forward-looking defence partnership. Discussions focused on co-production and co-development initiatives, sustained joint military exercises, logistics and information-sharing frameworks, and enhancing interoperability between the armed forces,' the statement added. Misri also held talks with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler and reviewed progress on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement. 'In his meeting with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, both sides reviewed progress on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, and the need to streamline ITAR and export control regulations. They agreed to convene the next meeting of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue at the earliest opportunity,' the statement said. 'Consistent with the vision outlined in the COMPACT, detailed inter-agency discussions were held on a range of strategic areas including defence cooperation, energy security, TRUST initiative, counter-terrorism, the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and collaboration through platforms such as the Quad, I2U2, and IMEEC,' the statement added. Misri, along with US Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, also held talks on deepening bilateral collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Washington, DC from May 27-29, 2025, for a series of high-level engagements with senior officials of the US Administration. The visit was a follow-up to the Prime Minister's visit to the United States on February 13, 2025, during which both sides launched the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century. Deputy National Security Advisor Shri Pavan Kapoor was also part of the Indian delegation. (ANI)
