President sets 17,500 refugee cap for FY 2027, prioritizing South African Afrikaners
The determination binds the Secretaries of State, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services and applies to fiscal year 2027.
Presidential Determination No. 2026-24, dated September 25, 2026, authorizes the admission of up to 17,500 refugees to the United States for Fiscal Year 2027. The determination was published in the Federal Register, Volume 91, Number 190, on October 2, 2026 (FR Doc No. 2026-20318, pages 63119-63120).
The allocation is to be "primarily ... among Afrikaners from South Africa" pursuant to Executive Order 14204. The determination references Executive Orders 14161, 14163, 14204 and Proclamation 10998, indicating that all admissions remain subject to the identification verification, national-interest review, and other restrictions outlined in those policies.
The President invoked authority under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) and, after consultation with Congress, specified that refugees processed under Executive Order 14204 may be considered refugees for admission purposes under section 1101(a)(42)(B) of the Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42)(B)).
The memorandum directs the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement the determination, with the Secretary of State specifically authorized to publish it in the Federal Register.
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