Washington on Wednesday accused South Africa of interfering with US efforts to admit white Afrikaners as refugees, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two governments.
The accusation followed South Africa’s arrest of seven Kenyan nationals working at a refugee application centre, whom authorities said lacked proper work authorisation.
A US official said Washington had operated its refugee programme lawfully, accusing Pretoria of breaking repeated pledges not to obstruct the process.
South African authorities raided the centre, staffed by Kenyans linked to a Christian-based NGO, citing alleged misuse of tourist visas for employment.
US State Department lawyers privately assessed that the Kenyans were permitted to work under their visa conditions, according to a source familiar with the case.
President Donald Trump has sharply restricted refugee admissions, granting exceptions almost exclusively to South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority.
Trump argues Afrikaners face persecution under South Africa’s post-apartheid government, a claim Pretoria firmly rejects as unfounded.