Al Sharpton dropped a bombshell allegation against the Trump administration that has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
The accusation comes at a time when tensions over immigration policy have reached a boiling point across the country.
And Al Sharpton just made one jaw-dropping claim about Trump’s immigration policy that left Newark Mayor Ras Baraka stunned into silence.
Sharpton alleges racial double standard in immigration policy
During a recent appearance with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Reverend Al Sharpton made explosive allegations about what he claims is a racial double standard in Trump’s immigration enforcement.
Sharpton expressed outrage that the Trump administration was taking action against Mayor Baraka for his stance on protecting migrants while supposedly planning to welcome white South Africans to America.
“I was deeply, I’m talking for myself. I was deeply disappointed to learn yesterday that while the Trump Administration was arresting you for standing up for migrants, they were also finalizing plans to fly white South Africans that they are calling refugees to the United States on State Department charter flights starting next week,” Sharpton said.
Sharpton says “large-scale relocation effort” for white migrants
The controversial civil rights leader didn’t stop there.
He went on to claim that the administration is organizing what he described as a “large-scale relocation effort” for white South African migrants.
“They are organizing what White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller calls ‘a large-scale relocation effort’ for these white migrants from South Africa, even while they’re terrorizing other, mostly non-white migrants who have been here for years,” Sharpton continued.
Sharpton then directly accused the administration of implementing immigration policies based on racial preferences.
“It seems to be very a very clear signal of the racial politics behind this immigration crackdown,” he declared before turning to Mayor Baraka and asking, “Doesn’t that appear that way to you, Mayor Baraka?”
The Newark mayor appeared taken aback by Sharpton’s allegations.
Newark’s sanctuary city status under fire
This exchange comes amid the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration and sanctuary cities across the country.
Mayor Baraka has been a vocal opponent of federal immigration enforcement in Newark, declaring it a “sanctuary city” and limiting local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
White House stance on immigration enforcement
The Trump administration has consistently maintained that its immigration policies are based on national security and the rule of law, not racial considerations.
White House officials have repeatedly stated that their focus is on enforcing existing immigration laws and protecting American communities from the dangers associated with unvetted illegal entry.
The Department of Homeland Security has previously pointed to data showing that immigration enforcement actions target individuals based on their legal status, not their country of origin or race.
Reactions to Sharpton’s allegations
Critics of Sharpton argue that his comments represent another attempt to inject racial politics into policy discussions about national sovereignty and border security.
Supporters of the administration’s immigration stance point to President Trump’s consistent message that legal immigration is welcome while illegal entry must be curtailed.
As of publication time, the White House has not responded directly to Sharpton’s specific allegations about South African migrants, though the administration has previously denied any racial motivation behind its immigration policies.
“It’s a genocide that’s taking place. Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. But whether they’re white or black makes no difference to me. We’ve essentially extended citizenship to those people. And to escape from that violence and come here,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
President Trump explains why he’s granting asylum to South African farmers:
“It’s a genocide that’s taking place that you people don’t want to write about… White farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated… And the newspapers, and the media, and… pic.twitter.com/1yEYzD7R9q
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) May 12, 2025
Immigration debate intensifies ahead of election
The confrontation highlights the increasingly polarized nature of immigration debates in America, with critics and supporters of the administration’s policies talking past each other on fundamental questions about America’s borders and who should be allowed to cross them.
Meanwhile, mayors of sanctuary cities like Newark continue to find themselves caught between federal enforcement efforts and their own promises to protect migrant communities within their jurisdictions.
