The U.S. State Department warned on Thursday of "severe consequences" if South Africa fails to hold accountable those responsible of what it described as the detention of U.S. officials and the public release of their passport information during an immigration enforcement operation in Johannesburg.
In a sharply worded statement, the department said it "condemns in the strongest terms" the South African government's actions, calling the public disclosure of U.S. officials' passport details "an unacceptable form of harassment" that "puts the official in harm's way."
The department added that such actions appeared intended to intimidate U.S. personnel carrying out official duties and warned that Washington "will not tolerate such behavior."
South African authorities said the incident occurred during a raid on a facility involved in processing refugee applications for Afrikaners seeking to relocate to the United States. Seven Kenyan nationals working at the site were arrested for violating the terms of their tourist visas by engaging in employment and were later expelled and barred from reentering South Africa for five years, according to France24.
U.S. officials confirmed that two American government employees were briefly questioned during the operation but were later released. South Africa, through its Department of Home Affairs, denied that any U.S. officials were arrested but said the presence of foreign officials working alongside individuals without proper authorization raised concerns about "intent and diplomatic protocol."
The Kenyans were assisting with refugee processing as part of a U.S.-backed program focused on Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority in South Africa. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Afrikaners face persecution and has prioritized them for refugee resettlement, allegations that South Africa's government, civil society groups and multiple investigations have rejected as unfounded.
The incident comes amid a broader deterioration in U.S.-South Africa relations. Washington has frozen aid, expelled South Africa's ambassador, and confirmed this week that it did not invite the country to an initial planning meeting for next year's G20 summit, marking the first time a member has been excluded, as CNN points out.
Originally published on Latin Times
