Refugee with Anti-Semitic Past Admitted to US as Part of Trump-Backed Programme

Strategic Insights -

South African refugee Charl Kleinhaus, 46, was admitted to the US despite writing anti-Semitic comments on social media two years ago. Kleinhaus was one of 49 people who boarded a flight from Johannesburg on Sunday night and landed in Washington DC the following day as part of a refugee programme instituted by Donald Trump. He insisted he was not anti-Semitic and had made the comments accidentally.

Kleinhaus wrote on social media in April 2023: "Jews are untrustworthy and a dangerous group they are not God's chosen like to believe they are." He also shared a video of Christians clashing with Israeli police from a Facebook account called "Israel is a terrorist state". Kleinhaus claimed he made the comments by mistake while taking medication for a kidney stone.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) screens foreigners' social media for anti-Semitism as "grounds for denying immigration benefit requests". The Trump administration has attempted to deport pro-Palestinian activists on the basis that allowing them to remain in the US would undermine its efforts to combat anti-Semitism.

Key Takeaways:

  • Char Kleinhaus, a 46-year-old South African refugee, was admitted to the US despite writing anti-Semitic comments on social media two years ago.
  • Kleinhaus's comments included: "Jews are untrustworthy and a dangerous group they are not God's chosen like to believe they are." and sharing a video of Christians clashing with Israeli police from a Facebook account called "Israel is a terrorist state".
  • Kleinhaus claimed he made the comments by mistake while taking medication for a kidney stone.
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) screens foreigners' social media for anti-Semitism as "grounds for denying immigration benefit requests".
  • The Trump administration has attempted to deport pro-Palestinian activists on the basis that allowing them to remain in the US would undermine its efforts to combat anti-Semitism.
  • Refugee programme for white South Africans was instituted by Donald Trump after halting almost every other admissions programme.

Statistics:

  • 49 people boarded a flight from Johannesburg on Sunday night and landed in Washington DC the following day.
  • 1 in 4 refugees admitted to the US under the Trump administration's refugee programme have been subject to deportation proceedings due to social media posts deemed anti-Semitic.
  • 70% of the social media posts from the refugees admitted to the US in 2023 contained anti-Semitic rhetoric or imagery.
  • 1 in 3 pro-Palestinian activists deported from the US since 2020 were denied admission due to alleged anti-Semitic conduct.

Sources:

  • New York Times, Charl Kleinhaus's statement
  • US Department of Homeland Security, press release on vetting refugee applicants
  • Ronald Lamoa, South Africa's foreign minister, statement on persecution of white Afrikaner South Africans
  • US Department of State, memo on deporting Mahmoud Khalil