US Refugee Cap for 2026: 7,500, Later Raised to 17,500 for Afrikaners
The United States set its refugee admissions ceiling for fiscal year (FY) 2026 at 7,500, the lowest since the modern program began in 1980, and focused it on Afrikaners from South Africa. On May 21, 2026, an emergency presidential determination added 10,000 more places, all for Afrikaners, bringing the FY2026 total to 17,500. For most other refugees, the US Refugee Admissions Program has been largely suspended since January 2025, and FY2026 ends on September 30, 2026.
On this page
- FY2026 ceiling (original)
- 7,500, signed Sept 30, 2025
- Emergency increase
- +10,000 on May 21, 2026, for Afrikaners only
- FY2026 total
- 17,500
- FY2025 ceiling (for comparison)
- 125,000, set before the program was suspended
- Program suspension
- Since Jan 2025 under Executive Order 14163
- Priority group
- Afrikaners from South Africa (Executive Order 14204)
- FY2027 ceiling
- Not announced as of Sept 22, 2026
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2025 | Executive Order 14163 suspends the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) |
| Feb 7, 2025 | Executive Order 14204 directs the government to prioritize resettlement of Afrikaners from South Africa |
| Early 2025 | A federal lawsuit (Pacito v. Trump) challenges the suspension; court orders allow limited processing for some refugees already approved |
| May 12, 2025 | The first group of Afrikaner refugees arrives in the US |
| Sept 30, 2025 | The FY2026 presidential determination sets the ceiling at 7,500 |
| Oct 31, 2025 | The FY2026 determination is published in the Federal Register |
| May 21, 2026 | An emergency presidential determination adds 10,000 places for Afrikaners, for a FY2026 total of 17,500 |
| May 27, 2026 | The emergency determination is published in the Federal Register |
| Sept 30, 2026 | FY2026 ends; a new determination is needed for FY2027 |
What the cap means
Each year the President, after consulting Congress, sets the maximum number of refugees who can be resettled in the US from abroad. The cap is a ceiling, not a target.
For FY2026:
- The original 7,500 places were described as going primarily to Afrikaners from South Africa.
- The 10,000 added in May 2026 are allocated only to Afrikaners, citing humanitarian concerns in South Africa.
- Other refugees remain largely shut out while the January 2025 suspension continues, except for limited cases handled under court orders or case-by-case exceptions.
Refugees who were already admitted can still apply for green cards after 1 year in the US, but USCIS has held or re-reviewed many cases in 2026, especially for nationals of the 39 travel ban countries. See refugee and asylee green cards.
Refugee status vs asylum
Refugee status is applied for outside the United States, usually after a referral from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), a US embassy, or a designated group. Asylum is requested by people who are already in the United States or at a port of entry. The refugee cap does not limit asylum grants, although asylum processing has its own 2026 restrictions and holds. If you are in the US and fear returning home, talk to a licensed immigration lawyer or nonprofit legal service. See humanitarian options.
What to do now
- If you are waiting abroad in the US refugee pipeline, keep your contact details current with your resettlement support center and keep your documents safe. There is no general way to speed up a case.
- If you are a family member of a refugee in the US, ask a resettlement agency or lawyer about Form I-730 follow-to-join petitions and how current holds affect them.
- Consider other countries. Canada runs government-assisted and private sponsorship programs; see Canada refugee resettlement and asylum in Canada. Mexico also recognizes refugees; see refugee status in Mexico.
- Watch for the FY2027 determination, expected around the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2026.
- Avoid scams. No one can sell you a place in the US refugee program. See scam protection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the US refugee cap for 2026?
The FY2026 ceiling was set at 7,500 in September 2025 and raised to 17,500 on May 21, 2026, with the extra 10,000 places reserved for Afrikaners from South Africa.
Who can be resettled as a refugee in the US right now?
Mainly Afrikaners from South Africa. Most other refugee processing has been suspended since January 2025, with limited exceptions.
Is 7,500 the lowest refugee cap ever?
Yes. It was the lowest ceiling since the Refugee Act of 1980 created the modern program.
Does the refugee cap limit asylum?
No. The cap covers refugees resettled from abroad. Asylum is a separate process for people already in the US.
What is the refugee cap for FY2027?
It had not been announced as of September 22, 2026. FY2027 starts on October 1, 2026.
Official sources
- Federal Register: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2026federalregister.gov
- Federal Register: Emergency Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2026federalregister.gov
- USCIS: Refugeesuscis.gov
- Global Refuge: Refugee Cap Finalized at 7,500 for FY2026globalrefuge.org
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.