The US has revoked protected status for thousands of Myanmar nationals, leaving them at risk of deportation to a war-torn country with a history of violence and repression.
About 4,000 Myanmar citizens have been living in the US under temporary protected status (TPS), which shields foreign nationals from deportation to disaster zones and allows them the right to work. The program was put in place after the military seized power in 2021, leading to a devastating civil war, repressive legal measures, and arrests of activists.
However, Washington has now removed Myanmar citizens' eligibility for TPS, citing "substantial steps toward political stability" - including forthcoming elections and the end of emergency rule. The decision has been widely criticized by monitors who describe the elections as a sham and note that localized martial law remains in place.
A junta spokesperson hailed the move, saying it was a positive statement that would allow Myanmar citizens to "come back to their motherland". He urged those living abroad to return home and vote in the general election, promising them a chance to participate in building a modern nation.
However, the UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar has warned of growing reports of international crimes committed before the elections. The mechanism said that detention of election critics and airstrikes could amount to persecution and spreading terror, as crimes against humanity.
The US Homeland Security Secretary announced the end of TPS, stating it was safe for Burmese citizens to return home. But for many in the exiled community, it's a far cry from reality. The advocacy group Students for Free Burma described the decision as a "slap in the face" and said it's not safe for people to go back home.
The move has been met with concern from human rights groups, who say that holding elections under these circumstances is unfathomable.
About 4,000 Myanmar citizens have been living in the US under temporary protected status (TPS), which shields foreign nationals from deportation to disaster zones and allows them the right to work. The program was put in place after the military seized power in 2021, leading to a devastating civil war, repressive legal measures, and arrests of activists.
However, Washington has now removed Myanmar citizens' eligibility for TPS, citing "substantial steps toward political stability" - including forthcoming elections and the end of emergency rule. The decision has been widely criticized by monitors who describe the elections as a sham and note that localized martial law remains in place.
A junta spokesperson hailed the move, saying it was a positive statement that would allow Myanmar citizens to "come back to their motherland". He urged those living abroad to return home and vote in the general election, promising them a chance to participate in building a modern nation.
However, the UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar has warned of growing reports of international crimes committed before the elections. The mechanism said that detention of election critics and airstrikes could amount to persecution and spreading terror, as crimes against humanity.
The US Homeland Security Secretary announced the end of TPS, stating it was safe for Burmese citizens to return home. But for many in the exiled community, it's a far cry from reality. The advocacy group Students for Free Burma described the decision as a "slap in the face" and said it's not safe for people to go back home.
The move has been met with concern from human rights groups, who say that holding elections under these circumstances is unfathomable.
I'm so worried about what's happening to the 4,000+ Myanmar nationals living in the US. Revoking their protected status means they'll be at risk of deportation back to a country with a history of violence and repression. It's like, the US is basically saying it's safe for them to go back home, but who knows what's really going on there? 
The fact that the UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism has warned of international crimes committed before the elections just shows how unstable things are in Myanmar right now.
they're revoking protected status for thousands of myanmar nationals and now they're at risk of being deported to a country with like, NO WAY safe situation 
like, what about the violence and repression? shouldn't we prioritize their safety over politics? 
it's just not right... i was thinking about this in history class and how some countries have done similar things during times of crisis. but now it feels like they're ignoring all that and just going ahead with this decision 
It's like the US government is essentially saying they're good to go back home now that there are "elections" on the horizon 
but trust me, we've all seen how that plays out in Burma. The UN's warnings about crimes against humanity and persecution aren't exactly reassuring 
. I mean, what if the elections are as fake as everyone says they are? And what about all these folks who have been living abroad for years? It's not just about politics, it's about their safety and well-being 
. The fact that the Homeland Security Sec is basically giving them a green light to return without considering the reality on the ground is super concerning 
. We need to hold our leaders accountable for making informed decisions like this 
I'm so worried about those 4,000 Myanmar citizens living in the US. Removing their TPS protection means they're at risk of being deported back to Myanmar without knowing what's happening on the ground. It's like the US government is cutting off a lifeline for people who have already been through so much trauma 
. What about their safety? 
. Like, the US is essentially saying it's okay for Myanmar to be all messed up and violent again because they have "elections" coming up? Give me a break 
. The whole thing reeks of a sham, if you ask me. And now these 4,000 people who've been living in the States with TPS are basically left high and dry 
I mean, I know it's not their problem anymore, but come on. This isn't like they're just closing a store or something 
. These are people's lives we're talking about.
. They're warning of crimes against humanity and persecution, but does anyone care? Nope 
. This is just a total mess and I'm all confused 
the junta's still got a lot of blood on their hands and now these people are gonna be deported back to a country with martial law & violence 
airstrikes & detentions? cant we jus focus on makin sure ppl are safe & free 2 speak their minds? 
The situation there is still super volatile, especially with the elections coming up. It's like, are they expecting everything to go smoothly? And what about all those international crimes that have been reported? 
. I mean, what kinda elections are we talking about here? Like, how can ppl vote with their lives at risk? 
.
, including detention of election critics and airstrikes. And now the US is basically saying it's okay to go back home 
? This is like asking someone with PTSD to go back to a war zone 
: 4k+ people affected, 60% are refugees, and 40% have been living in the US for over 10 years 
. The advocacy group Students for Free Burma is calling it a "slap in the face" 
. We need to keep an eye on this situation 
. Who cares if there are elections? It's not about democracy, it's about human rights. The US should be thinking about people's safety instead of 'political stability' 
. They're just trying to silence ppl who speak out against them. I feel so bad for those 4,000 ppl who are gonna have to face deportation back to a war-torn country. It's not right