The United States has begun accepting white South Africans as refugees, saying they face racial discrimination. South Africa disputes the claim. Democrats in the US are also criticizing the administration's move.



The first group of about 60 people known as Afrikaners were welcomed by US officials at an airport near Washington on Monday.



President Donald Trump told reporters he was accepting the white South Africans as refugees "because they're being killed" in what he called "a genocide."



Trump said he doesn't care about race or color but that he just knows "what's happening is terrible."



The Trump administration has been increasing pressure on South Africa, after taking issue with its land expropriation policy announced in January.



Trump says the policy discriminates against the minority white people and threatens their rights. He has announced a freeze of US aid in response.



The South African government denies the claim of genocide and says its land policy is not racially charged.



Democrats in Congress are criticizing the administration for accepting the Afrikaners while detaining and deporting refugees who they say face "genuine dangers" in other countries.



Trump has been severely restricting the resettlement of migrants and refugees under his policy of cracking down on illegal immigration.