Human rights organisations have launched a fierce condemnation of the Trump administration's controversial move to end a programme that protected citizens of Myanmar from deportation back to their homeland, which remains engulfed in a brutal civil war.
Decision Based on 'Improved Conditions' Contradicts Reality
On Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar, also known as Burma. Justifying the decision, she cited the military regime's plans for "free and fair elections" in December and the establishment of "successful ceasefire agreements." Noem stated, "The situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home."
This assessment stands in stark contrast to the situation on the ground. The military, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The upcoming elections are widely viewed by international observers as a sham, given that Suu Kyi is imprisoned and her political party has been banned.
Rights Groups Denounce 'Deluded' and 'Egregious' Move
The decision has provoked outrage among human rights advocates. Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, issued a blistering statement, drawing a parallel to Secretary Noem's widely publicised shooting of her family dog. "Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem is treating those people just like her family’s dog... she will literally be sending them back to prisons, brutal torture, and death in Myanmar," he said.
Robertson further accused Noem of being "seriously deluded" about the nature of the elections and of inventing claims about ceasefires. John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, called the administration's misstatements "so egregious that it is hard to imagine who would believe them." He estimated the decision could affect up to 4,000 people.
A Nation Mired in Conflict and Atrocities
The military takeover sparked a national uprising, leading to fierce fighting across the country. In its campaign, the military has been accused of severe human rights abuses, including:
- The indiscriminate use of landmines.
- Targeting schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
- Using civilians as human shields.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, the conflict has led to the arrest of over 30,000 people for political reasons and 7,488 killed since the coup. Furthermore, International Criminal Court prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing for crimes against humanity related to the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority.
The US State Department's own travel guidance advises Americans to avoid Myanmar completely due to "armed conflict, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, land mines, and wrongful detentions." Despite this, Homeland Security maintains that allowing Myanmar citizens to remain in the US is "contrary to the national interest." The shadow National Unity Government (NUG) expressed sadness at the decision, stating the reasons for revoking TPS "do not reflect the reality in Myanmar."
