Family forced to return to South Africa

Aberdeen News ^ | December 29th, 2002 | Betsy Rice

[F-117A]

Warner couple, children fled violence on African farms

Hope for prosperity and safety prompted Frieda and Wessel Steenkamp to immigrate to the United States in May 2001. But as they observe their second New Year's in this country, there will be no celebration. By order of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the couple, both in their early 30s, and their two young children will be deported. On Jan. 9, they will leave the home near Warner where they'd hoped to build a future. They must return to South Africa.

Although most of the world's attention is focused elsewhere, international news services report that South Africa's 40,000 white farmers - primarily Boer Afrikaners of Dutch descent - are under siege. From January 2001 to April 2002, more than 200 have died in some 1,400 armed attacks on white-owned farms. In the previous five years some 700 farmers were killed.

The end of apartheid in 1994 unleashed violent - and largely unchecked - reverse discrimination, according to news reports and the Steenkamps. Many blacks insist the land was stolen from them generations ago and they are bent on retaliation. Fear and hopelessness impelled the couple's decision to leave the family farm near the town of Brits. "My husband farmed with a gun on his body," says Frieda, whose first language is Afrikaans.

[F-117A]

Although international journalists and others describe the situation as a "powder keg," Peterson [their lawyer] points out that Human Rights Watch maintains the attacks on white farmers are criminally, not racially, motivated [defining away racism].

[xJones]

By order of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the couple, both in their early 30s, and their two young children will be deported. On Jan. 9, they will leave the home near Warner where they'd hoped to build a future. They must return to South Africa.

Is there something we can do? INS phone numbers, email addresses, anything? Damn the INS, they never saw a Somalian they didn't like but white South Africans don't count.

[dennisw]

No asylum for educated whites. Only for 3rd worlders who are a generation or less out of the jungle. Bring in more Somalis baby! To placate the congressional Black Caucus. Bring in more Muslims!

[denydenydeny]

Bumping and bookmarking.

[crystalk]

Doesn't anyone here know any Dutch Reformed Church in Grand Rapids or somewhere that will take these people in? Where are their fellow Netherlands Descendants, in Michigan or New York or where?

[Tired]

This world is upside down. It makes no sense what-so-ever. When are we going to wake up and smell the tire burning around OUR neck?

[sheik yerbouty]

Funny how the lefties always say that.

[Missouri]

>>This world is upside down.<<


You got that right. Last night on the O'Reilly Factor, the rape of a 42 year old women by a gang of Mexican illegals was discussed. Most if not all had been arrested before before BUT New York City will not let the police report illegals who commit crimes to the INS for deportation!
What harm would it do to stick the Africaaners out in Iowa somewhere and run a farm? And let violent criminal illegals run the street!

[Age of Reason]

There are many who now criticize America for having turned away Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany decades ago.

Decades from now, people will question how America could turn away these white farmers today.

[Dionysius]

Hard working people who will make a contribution -- NO!
Worthless slackers who will suck this country dry -- YES!

God save us!

[Ciexyz]

I am outraged by this inconsistency in our country's immigration policies. Is there any way for this white farm family to claim asylum?

[FreePaul]

GREAT! Now I hope to hear of the millions of illegals here being sent home tomorrow. I'm not going to hold my breath. Seems that if people come here and observe all of the laws and requirements upon entry they just make themselves easy targets for the various disorganized groups who are supposed to keep track of them. If these people had first gone to Canada or Mexico and just walked across the border they would probably be able to spend their life her without be targets of government agencies that can't get their acts together.

[BIGZ]

Right on Baby!

Besides that they would vote Republican -- can't have that.

[fraudbuster1956]

I don't know what ultimately became of the Steenkamps. However, I read that Frieda was pregnant. If the family had hidden out long enough for her to give birth to an "anchor baby," they probably could have stayed.