South African authorities have arrested and ordered the deportation of seven Kenyan nationals found working illegally in the country on applications linked to a controversial United States refugee programme prioritising white Afrikaner applicants.

 

The Department of Home Affairs said intelligence reports led to an operation in Johannesburg on Tuesday, where the Kenyan nationals — who entered South Africa on tourist visas — were discovered engaging in employment at a facility processing refugee applications for the U.S. despite having been denied the proper work visas.

 

In a media statement, the department confirmed the arrests and said the individuals have been issued deportation orders and will be barred from re-entering South Africa for five years for violating immigration law. The operation was conducted in coordination with other law enforcement agencies and followed standard legal procedures.

 

South African officials emphasised that no U.S. personnel were arrested during the raid and that the operation was not carried out at a diplomatic site. The government also stated that no members of the public or prospective refugees were mistreated.

 

The incident has prompted formal diplomatic engagements involving South Africa, the United States, and Kenya. Pretoria expressed concern about the presence of foreign officials allegedly coordinating with undocumented workers, characterising it as a breach of protocol.

 

The arrests come amid growing tensions between Pretoria and Washington. The U.S. refugee programme, initiated under President Donald Trump’s administration, reserves a large share of its limited quota for white South Africans whom the U.S. government claims are victims of racial persecution — a claim strongly rejected by South African authorities.

 

A U.S. State Department spokesperson criticised the South African action as “unacceptable interference” in its refugee operations and called for clarification, while the South African government stressed its commitment to enforcing immigration laws without fear or favour.