The South African government has defended its decision to deport seven Kenyan nationals found illegally working in the country, amid escalating diplomatic tensions with the United States.
In a statement released on Thursday, December 18, South African authorities said the Kenyans were deported after being discovered processing refugee applications without valid work permits. The government maintained that the action was taken strictly in line with immigration and labour laws.
“These individuals were undertaking work without valid permits, and the government will not compromise its sovereignty or the enforcement of the rule of law,” the statement said.
The deportations have, however, sparked a sharp response from Washington. On the same day, the U.S. Department of State, under President Donald Trump’s administration, condemned what it described as the detention and harassment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
In its statement, the United States alleged that South African officials allowed the public disclosure of passport details belonging to American personnel, calling the move an “unacceptable act of harassment” that endangered U.S. officials.
“The U.S. condemns in the strongest terms the South African government’s recent detention of U.S. officials performing their duties to provide humanitarian support to Afrikaners,” the statement read.
Washington further warned that failure by South Africa to hold those responsible accountable would result in “severe consequences,” urging Pretoria to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.
The diplomatic standoff follows the arrest of the seven Kenyans earlier this week. According to reports, the individuals had been involved in processing refugee applications for white South Africans, known as Afrikaners, seeking relocation to the United States.
The processing was allegedly linked to a programme initiated under the Trump administration that prioritises white South Africans for refugee status, based on claims of racial persecution and what proponents describe as “white genocide” — a narrative that has been widely disputed by the South African government and human rights groups.
Pretoria has consistently rejected claims of state-sanctioned racial persecution, arguing that crime in South Africa affects all communities and that immigration and labour laws apply equally to citizens and foreigners.
As diplomatic exchanges continue, analysts warn that the standoff could further strain U.S.–South Africa relations, already under pressure over differing positions on human rights, foreign policy, and global governance.
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