South Africa has arrested seven Kenyan nationals accused of illegally working on the processing of U.S. refugee applications, triggering diplomatic tensions involving Pretoria, Washington, and Nairobi.
In a statement released on Wednesday, South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs said the seven Kenyans were found working unlawfully at a refugee processing centre despite having entered the country on tourist visas. Authorities said the individuals would be deported.
The arrests were carried out during an operation on Tuesday, which also saw two U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) refugee officers briefly detained before being released. A USCIS official and a person familiar with the matter confirmed the incident to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
USCIS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
US Slams Raid as “Unacceptable”
The U.S. State Department strongly criticised the operation, with spokesperson Tommy Pigott describing the incident as unacceptable interference in American refugee operations.
“We are seeking immediate clarification from the South African government and expect full cooperation and accountability,” Pigott said in a statement.
“We’ll have more to say once all the facts are confirmed, but the Trump Administration will always stand up for U.S. interests, U.S. personnel, and the rule of law. Interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable.”
South African authorities, however, maintained that no U.S. officials were arrested, insisting that the enforcement action targeted undocumented foreign workers.
Illegal Employment Allegations
According to South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs, the Kenyan nationals had previously applied for work visas to undertake refugee processing duties, but those applications were denied. Despite this, they allegedly entered the country on tourist visas and later took up employment illegally.
The ministry said the processing work was being conducted by RSC Africa, a Kenya-based refugee support centre operated by Church World Service, as indicated on the U.S. Embassy website.
“The presence of foreign officials apparently coordinating with undocumented workers naturally raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol,” the South African government said.
Refugee Programme at the Centre of Dispute
The incident comes amid controversy surrounding a U.S. refugee resettlement programme initiated this year under President Donald Trump’s second administration, which seeks to relocate thousands of white South Africans to the United States.
The programme is based on claims by Washington that white South Africans face racial persecution — an allegation strongly denied by South Africa’s government, which has repeatedly dismissed the claims as false and politically motivated.
President Trump has previously used these allegations to justify cutting U.S. aid to South Africa and excluding the country from G20 engagements, further straining relations between the two nations.
Diplomatic Fallout Looms
South Africa confirmed that it has initiated formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to address the issue.
The Kenyan government appeared caught off guard by the developments. A spokesperson for Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said she was not immediately aware of the arrests but would seek further details.
Analysts warn that the incident could further worsen already fragile diplomatic ties between Pretoria and Washington, while also placing Nairobi in an awkward position due to the involvement of Kenyan nationals in the dispute.
As deportation proceedings move forward, attention is expected to shift to how Kenya, South Africa, and the United States manage the diplomatic repercussions of the arrests and the broader controversy surrounding U.S. refugee operations in the region.