US Ends Protection Status For Myanmar Nationals
The Donald Trump administration has announced that it will end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Myanmar living in the United States. The move affects nearly 4,000 individuals and will take effect on 26 January 2026, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Justification For Change
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that conditions in Myanmar have improved sufficiently to allow safe return of its citizens. She cited reductions in declared state-of-emergency status, plans for elections and progress in local governance as factors in the decision.
Impact On Affected Population
Those currently under TPS will no longer have protection from deportation after the effective date and will need to seek another legal basis to remain in the U.S. Immigration and rights-groups caution that reports of ongoing human-rights abuses, political repression and instability in Myanmar raise serious concerns about forced returns.
Policy Context
This termination is part of a broader trend under the Trump administration of revoking TPS designations for several countries. While past designations were granted to people from nations experiencing armed conflict or humanitarian crises, the current policy shift places greater emphasis on advancing conditions at origin countries rather than continuing protection indefinitely.
