Former Obama-Biden staffer Ashley Allison ignited controversy on CNN’s NewsNight on May 12, 2025, by suggesting that white South African Afrikaner refugees, granted asylum in the U.S. by President Donald Trump, should return to their “native land” in Europe rather than settle in America. Her remarks, made during a heated panel discussion about South Africa’s land reform policies and violence against white farmers, drew sharp rebuttals and fueled debates over race, history, and refugee policy. This article examines the controversy, South Africa’s apartheid legacy, and the ongoing land reform crisis driving Afrikaner emigration.
The same people who had no problem with letting in 20 million illegal immigrants, gang members included, are suddenly outraged about a small group of white South African refugees.
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) May 13, 2025
Spare me. pic.twitter.com/KR1vLIo42P
The CNN Panel Controversy
During a CNN NewsNight panel, Ashley Allison, a former senior staffer for the Obama-Biden administration, reacted to the arrival of 59 Afrikaner refugees at Dulles International Airport on May 12, 2025, under Trump’s executive order prioritizing their resettlement CNN. Allison argued that Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers, are not native to South Africa and could return to Europe, stating, “If the Afrikaners don’t actually like the land, they can leave that country. They can actually even go to where their native land is, which is probably… Holland” Daily Mail. She claimed South Africa’s land reform laws, aimed at redistributing land to Black citizens, justified their departure if they felt discriminated against.
Biden-Harris senior staffer supports taking land away from white South Africans who could "go back to Germany!!" (not USA) pic.twitter.com/IIgYI1SdME
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 13, 2025
Conservative panelist Scott Jennings countered, noting the refugees were fleeing violence, saying, “They’re leaving to come here” due to attacks on white farmers Daily Mail. The South African government denies claims of targeted persecution, stating that crime statistics do not show racial targeting of farmers and that domestic mechanisms exist to address discrimination BBC. However, Trump and allies like Elon Musk have amplified claims of “genocide” against white farmers, citing over 3,000 farm murders since the 1990s, though data on racial motivations remains contested Reuters.
Today @DeputySecState welcomed the first group of Afrikaner refugees fleeing persecution from their native South Africa. We stand with these refugees, many of them farmers and former business owners, as they build a better future for themselves and their children here in the… pic.twitter.com/W16RJSU3tB
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 12, 2025
Historical Fact: The Legacy of Apartheid in South Africa
South Africa’s apartheid system, enforced by Afrikaner-led governments from 1948 to 1994, institutionalized racial segregation and dispossessed Black communities of land and rights. The 1913 Natives Land Act restricted Black ownership to 7% of the country’s land, consolidating white control over 80% of agricultural areas. The end of apartheid in 1994, marked by Nelson Mandela’s presidency, promised land reform, but progress has been slow, with white South Africans still owning over 70% of farmland. This historical inequity fuels current land expropriation debates, which Allison referenced as a step toward “racial reconciliation” Britannica.
Debating Refugee Policy and Land Reform
Trump’s February 2025 executive order, which suspended most refugee admissions but prioritized Afrikaners as victims of “unjust racial discrimination,” has drawn fierce criticism The New York Times. Refugee advocates like Jeremy Konyndyk of Refugees International called it a “racialized immigration program,” noting that millions fleeing war in countries like Congo and Afghanistan remain stranded CNN. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected claims of persecution, stating, “Those people who have fled are not being hounded, they are not being treated badly” CNN.
“While it’s trues some of these families are being murdered, they are the most privileged on the continent”
— FuriousPaladin (@PaladinsFury) May 13, 2025
-NYT Nicholas Kristof on cnn about South African white families.
Wake up white man. You are hated pic.twitter.com/bn6ANXlfgH
Allison’s suggestion that Afrikaners return to Holland or Germany (an inaccurate reference, as Afrikaners are primarily of Dutch descent) overlooks their centuries-long presence in South Africa since the 1600s. Critics on X argue her comments reflect a double standard, with some calling them dismissive of legitimate safety concerns X. Meanwhile, Afrikaner groups like Solidarity and AfriForum have rejected Trump’s resettlement offer, insisting, “We are committed to build a future here” VOA. The debate highlights the tension between addressing historical land inequities and ensuring safety for all South Africans.
Author: Planet-Today.com
Via AFP
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