Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Johannesburg, South Africa — South African authorities carried out a targeted immigration enforcement operation this week at a refugee application processing centre involved in handling cases for a controversial United States resettlement programme, resulting in the arrest of seven Kenyan nationals for working illegally in the country. The move has triggered diplomatic tensions and raised questions about immigration oversight, visa compliance, and international cooperation.
The operation, led by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, took place in Johannesburg on December 16 after intelligence reports indicated that a number of Kenyan nationals had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas and were engaged in employment at a centre processing applications for people seeking resettlement in the United States. These visa conditions strictly prohibit work and were in clear violation of South African immigration laws, officials said.
Home Affairs spokesperson Carli van Wyk confirmed that the seven individuals were discovered working despite having been refused the appropriate work visas for the positions they held. They were promptly **arrested, issued with deportation orders, and banned from re‑entering South Africa for five years as part of enforcement action to uphold immigration regulations. The arrests highlight Pretoria’s commitment to addressing abuses of its immigration system and enforcing visa conditions without exception.
The centre where the Kenyans were employed is understood to be linked to processing applications for a US government refugee programme that gives priority to white South African applicants — often referred to as “Afrikaner refugees” — under an initiative introduced by the administration of President Donald Trump. That programme has been widely criticised and disputed by the South African government, which maintains that white Afrikaners do not face persecution under internationally recognised refugee criteria.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Ministry emphasised that no United States officials were arrested during the operation, and the raid was not conducted at a diplomatic site. Authorities also stated that no members of the public or refugee applicants present at the centre were harassed during the enforcement action, which followed lawful procedures.
The legal basis for the arrests lies in South Africa’s immigration laws, which prohibit foreign nationals from engaging in any form of paid employment on tourist visas. Earlier attempts by the organisations involved to secure proper work visas for the Kenyans had been lawfully declined by Home Affairs, making their subsequent work status in the country unlawful.
The incident has already sparked diplomatic engagement between South Africa, the United States, and Kenya. South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation has initiated formal discussions with both governments to resolve concerns stemming from the arrests and to clarify immigration and diplomatic protocols, especially as they relate to international refugee processing arrangements.
From the US perspective, the matter has drawn criticism from Washington. The US State Department has called for clarification and accountability, describing interference with refugee operations as “unacceptable” and urging full cooperation from South African authorities in addressing the issue. These comments reflect broader strains between the two countries, which have seen diplomatic friction over refugee policy, geopolitical positions, and recent statements by US officials regarding South African domestic affairs.
Kenyan officials are also reported to be involved in diplomatic discussions following the arrests. Nairobi is examining the circumstances under which its citizens were recruited and brought to South Africa on visas that did not permit employment. The Kenyan government has expressed concern about the welfare and legal treatment of its nationals in foreign jurisdictions, especially in the context of international programmes and contractual arrangements with external organisations.
Legal analysts and migration experts said the raid and arrests illustrate the complex intersection of immigration law enforcement and international refugee policy, particularly when private or contracted international organisations operate within foreign jurisdictions. They note that South Africa’s actions underscore a broader emphasis on protecting the integrity of its immigration system and preventing abuses of visa categories, even amid politically sensitive international programmes.
While the centre’s operations are part of a US‑backed effort to resettle certain groups of South Africans, South African authorities have maintained that all such activities must comply with local immigration law, regardless of external policy aims. This principle has, in recent months, extended to broader debates between Pretoria and Washington over refugee criteria, sovereign enforcement of domestic laws, and respect for national sovereignty in enforcement actions.
The arrested Kenyans now face deportation, and South African officials said they would be prohibited from returning for a significant period as a measure against misuse of immigration privileges. Meanwhile, diplomatic contacts and negotiations continue as all sides seek to clarify legal obligations, preserve diplomatic relations, and address the future of the resettlement programme and similar arrangements that involve foreign nationals operating across borders.
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