U.S. Relies on Kenyan NGO for Vetting as Resources Dwindle
On July 17, 2025, in central Pennsylvania, retired U.S. Army Colonel Chris Wyatt, a former intelligence officer and African Studies Director at the U.S. Army War College, verified the legitimacy of a U.S. refugee program for South Africans, run by Church World Services (CWS) via its Resettlement Support Center Africa in Kenya.
The program, aiding Afrikaners and minorities facing racial discrimination, is under pressure from recent State Department layoffs, authorized by a Supreme Court ruling, and a lack of dedicated funding.
CWS, a veteran NGO that has resettled 865,000 refugees since 1980, handles vetting and orientation, with Kenyan staff contacting applicants via +254 calls.
Budget constraints force reliance on commercial flights, costing $1,500-$2,000 per refugee, while random processing puts the most vulnerable applicants at risk.
The program’s focus on South African minorities, particularly Afrikaners, Indians, and Colored communities facing persecution and racial discrimination, offers hope but faces challenges.
Limited resources and State Department layoffs lead to random processing, causing delays and uncertainty for desperate applicants, who must navigate a strained system despite their urgent need for resettlement.
Colonel Chris Wyatt: What’s the Real Story Behind the Kenyan Angle in South Africa Refugee News?
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