Context:

The Episcopal Church has decided to terminate its partnership with the U.S. government on refugee resettlement, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa following President Trump's designation of them as refugees. Bishop Sean W. Rowe emphasized the church's commitment to racial justice and its longstanding ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa as reasons for this decision. The church plans to wind down its federally funded services by the end of the fiscal year but will continue supporting resettled immigrants and refugees through other means. Trump's executive order to admit Afrikaners, justified by claims of racial discrimination in South Africa, has been met with skepticism and rejection by South African religious leaders. The situation is further complicated by an overall freeze on the U.S. refugee program, resulting in layoffs and legal challenges by resettlement organizations, while some groups criticize the prioritization of Afrikaner resettlement over other vulnerable populations.

Dive Deeper:

• The Episcopal Church announced its decision to end its four-decade-long relationship with the U.S. federal government in refugee resettlement due to moral objections against resettling white Afrikaners, as mandated by President Trump's administration.

• Presiding Bishop Sean W. Rowe highlighted the church's dedication to racial justice and its historical opposition to apartheid in South Africa, aligning itself with the Anglican Communion's values and the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

• The church will conclude its federally funded refugee services by September but remains committed to aiding refugees through other initiatives, emphasizing their ongoing support to those already resettled.

• The decision coincides with the arrival of Afrikaners in the U.S. after Trump's executive order, which claimed they were victims of racial discrimination in South Africa, a premise refuted by South African religious leaders.

• The broader context includes a near-total freeze on the U.S. refugee program, leading to layoffs among resettlement agencies and lawsuits challenging the administration's executive order and its impact on other refugee populations.

• Organizations like Church World Service and World Relief have criticized the U.S. government's prioritization of Afrikaners, calling for the resumption of a comprehensive refugee resettlement process for diverse, persecuted groups.

• The situation reveals tensions between church advocacy for racial justice and governmental refugee policies, amidst a backdrop of administrative legal battles and humanitarian concerns over refugee admissions.