Afrikaner family stranded in the US appeals for help after seeking refuge
Reports have emerged that a family of Afrikaners has found themselves in an alarming predicament after allegedly being stranded in a hotel in Montana, US, with no food, money, or means of communication:
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Afrikaner family stranded in the US appeals for help after seeking refuge
Published by capeetc on June 12, 2025
A distressing situation has emerged for an Afrikaner family of four who have reportedly found themselves stranded in a hotel in Montana, USA, after arriving under a refugee programme intended for persecuted individuals.
The family’s plight came to light through a TikTok post by South African expatriate @catmpt, who uncovered their struggle for basic necessities such as food and communication.
This family’s predicament highlights the challenges faced by some of the white South Africans who have recently sought refuge in the United States amid fears of political persecution back home.
Two distinct groups of white South Africans have recently obtained refugee status in the US, entering a programme that was bolstered by an Executive Order from President Donald Trump.
Under this framework, refugees are granted Priority-2 status, which promises certain start-up assistance, including financial support and job placement.
However, the reality for the Afrikaner family appears to be considerably different from their expectations.
According to the TikTok user, the family were under the impression that upon their arrival, they would be provided with comprehensive assistance including housing, jobs, and healthcare.
Unfortunately, their experience has been marred by the harsh reality that few have the resources or network to facilitate such support in a new country.
‘They were understanding that they would be arriving here for complete assistance,’ @catmpt said. ‘People thought they would be arriving at a house, a job, medical insurance, and other things. It isn’t that way at all.’
Her criticism of the family’s unrealistic expectations reflects a sentiment shared by some long-term expatriates, who have endured considerable bureaucracy to relocate successfully.
Having left South Africa over a decade ago, @catmpt expressed her frustration at the discrepancies in experience. ‘One side of me is like, “My husband and I went through all of the red tape, and we got our visas…we’ve got our green card. We’ve been here ten years. We did everything the right way.” Here, these people, regardless of what they were promised, just came here expecting everything,’ she lamented.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in South Africa has previously clarified that South African refugees in the US will not have access to diplomatic assistance while abroad.
The responsibility falls to the US Refugee Admissions Programme, which aims to assist refugees but does not guarantee comprehensive support upon arrival.
DIRCO provided further insight into the complexities of refugee status, stating, ‘You can’t be seeking refuge status, then go back home, have a braai, then go back. It defeats the purpose of you being protected and a refugee of a particular country,’ as quoted by The South African.
For Afrikaners who wish to return voluntarily to South Africa, options for repatriation exist through organisations like the UNHCR, which can offer financial aid to assist with the journey.
