The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, Sean Rowe, has publicly declined to assist in the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, citing deep concerns about racial justice, preferential treatment, and the moral failure of current U.S. refugee policy.
In a letter dated 12 May 2025, shared by journalist Sherwin Bryce-Pease on his @sherwiebp X (formerly Twitter) account, Bishop Rowe made it clear that Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) — the Church’s refugee arm — will not be involved in resettling the Afrikaners who landed in Texas on 12 May, after departing OR Tambo International Airport the previous day.
Preferential Treatment Sparks Outrage
Bishop Rowe said he was “saddened and ashamed” by what he described as preferential treatment given to the Afrikaners by the U.S. government.
“Many of the refugees being denied entrance to the United States are individuals who served alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger in their home countries,” Rowe wrote.
His comments appear to be a direct rebuke of former President Donald Trump’s controversial policy, which recently allowed a group of Afrikaners expedited entry into the United States on claims of genocide and persecution — a narrative that human rights experts and the South African government dispute.
Rowe Criticises White Refugee Priority
Rowe’s statement follows a viral video posted by American X user @WUTang, showing the Afrikaner group arriving in the U.S., which further fuelled debate over racial bias in refugee admissions. Rowe expressed moral discomfort at watching the government bypass thousands of refugees from conflict zones like Sudan, Gaza, and the DRC, many of whom have languished in dangerous refugee camps for years.
“Our Church cannot and will not support a resettlement process that so clearly privileges one group over others, particularly when that privilege is rooted in racial identity and political optics,” he stated.
End of Episcopal Resettlement Program
Rowe also confirmed that the Episcopal Church will be ending its refugee resettlement grants with the federal government by the end of the 2025 fiscal year, effectively concluding its longstanding partnership in U.S. refugee operations.
The decision comes amid a broader critique of U.S. immigration and asylum policy, which has seen drastic cuts and inconsistent enforcement under the Trump administration.
Support for Southern African Ties
Rowe reaffirmed the Episcopal Church’s historic relationship with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, suggesting that assisting in the resettlement of a politically contentious group from South Africa would violate the Church’s values and damage ecumenical trust.
“Our commitment to racial reconciliation, both in the U.S. and abroad, compels us to say no,” he concluded.
Context: Who Are the Afrikaner Refugees?
The Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority in South Africa, have in recent years claimed they are victims of violence and land expropriation. However, statistical evidence does not support the claim of genocide, and South African authorities have repeatedly stated there is no systemic campaign against white farmers.
Their sudden admission into the U.S., especially while refugees from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are denied entry, has raised serious ethical, racial, and geopolitical concerns.
