SA Family Stranded in the US After Big Move Goes Wrong

A South African Afrikaner family of four is currently stuck in the US and reaching out for help after things didn’t go quite as they expected. They recently moved to Montana as refugees, hoping for a fresh start and some support to get going. Instead, they’ve ended up in a hotel with barely any food, no money, and no idea what comes next.

They thought the US government would help with housing, healthcare, and finding jobs. But that hasn’t happened. Now they’re struggling and trying to figure things out on their own.

A TikToker who goes by @catmpt shared their story online. She’s a South African who moved to the US over a decade ago and says the family misunderstood what kind of help they’d actually get. According to her, they were expecting to arrive and be handed a home, a job, and everything else sorted. Sadly, that’s not how it works.

The family’s refugee status falls under something called the “Priority 2” program, which was introduced during Trump’s presidency. It was aimed at helping people from minority groups, including white South Africans, who felt unsafe at home. While the program does offer some help, like a place to stay and maybe a little financial support, it mostly works best when families have sponsors or people in the US to support them. This family didn’t have that.

@catmpt explained that her own journey was much slower and more official. She and her husband spent years applying for visas and green cards. She feels for the family, but also points out that expecting everything to be handed over on arrival just isn’t realistic.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations (DIRCO) has also weighed in, saying they can’t really do much. DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri offered this sizzling reality check:

“Even the word itself, refugee, suggests that you are seeking refuge from a particular country. You can’t be seeking refugee status, then go back home, have a braai, then go back. It defeats the purpose of you being protected and a refugee of a particular country.”

If the family decides they want to go back home, organisations like the UNHCR might be able to help with that. But they’d have to officially give up their refugee status.

It’s a tough spot to be in, and their story is a reminder that moving overseas, especially as a refugee, isn’t always as easy as it might seem. It also shows how important it is to know exactly what to expect before taking such a big step.