Trump wants to extend citizenship to "any farmer" from South Africa, but experts say he likely can't

[Eugene]

Earlier DU thread: Trump Throws Musk a Bone With White South African Order

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Source: Salon

Trump wants to extend citizenship to "any farmer" from South Africa, but experts say he likely can't

But the president "does not have the authority" to create a visa or citizenship rule without Congress, experts say

By Griffin Eckstein
Published March 7, 2025 1:54PM (EST)

President Donald Trump announced a proposal to extend citizenship to white South African farmers on Friday, citing what he claims is mistreatment at the hands of their government.

“Any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship. This process will begin immediately!” Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social.

But legal experts say Trump alone has no ability to extend citizenship to favored groups.

“This administration has become fixated on using executive orders to try to replace the function of Congress,” Rosanna Berardi, managing partner of an immigration law firm, said in an interview. “To create any type of visa classification… that falls squarely on the shoulders of Congress.”

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Read more: https://www.salon.com/2025/03/07/wants-to-extend-citizenship-to-any-farmer-from-south-africa-but-experts-say-he-likely-cant/