South African authorities have arrested and deported seven Kenyan nationals found working illegally in the U.S.-linked refugee processing center in Johannesburg. The Department of Home Affairs said the Kenyans had entered the country on tourist visas and were employed processing applications by white Afrikaners seeking refugee status in the United States, despite earlier work visa applications being denied.
Officials confirmed the seven were arrested during a raid, issued deportation orders, and banned from re-entering South Africa for five years. The department stressed that no U.S. officials were detained, the operation did not take place at a diplomatic site, and no refugee applicants were harassed.
U.S. officials criticized the action, arguing that it disrupted refugee operations. State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that the department was seeking “immediate clarification from the South African government” and expected “full cooperation and accountability.” He warned, “Interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable.”
South African authorities rejected claims of interference, describing the raid as a routine enforcement action aligned with efforts to curb illegal immigration and visa abuse. The Home Affairs Ministry noted that the operation reflected a broader crackdown that has intensified deportations over the past 18 months. It also pointed out that the presence of foreign officials allegedly coordinating with illegal workers raised concerns about diplomatic protocol.
The processing work is conducted by RSC Africa, a Kenya-based organization operated by Church World Service under contract with the U.S. government. The incident comes amid strained relations over the Trump administration’s decision to prioritize Afrikaners for refugee status, a policy South Africa disputes while maintaining the arrests were strictly a matter of law enforcement.
