The United States has revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Myanmar, putting around 4,000 nationals at risk of deportation and causing widespread panic within the diaspora community.
The US Department of Homeland Security announced the termination, stating that the situation in Myanmar had improved enough to allow safe return, citing the junta's planned elections and ceasefire agreements. However, critics argue the country remains deeply unsafe.
Aung, a Myanmar national studying in New York, expressed fear of being conscripted into the civil war. He worries that after his student visa expires in 2026, he could be deported to a country where his life would be in danger. He has already begun an asylum claim.
Su Htet, an activist who organised virtual demonstrations after the 2021 coup, fears for her safety due to her activism and Muslim faith. Officials visited her family home in Myanmar looking for her and her brothers.
Lungpi, a Christian from an ethnic minority, saw his town burned by soldiers and his relatives displaced. He said there is “a lot of anxiety” once his protection expires, adding, “I’d definitely be arrested if I had to return.”
International Crisis Group senior Myanmar adviser Richard Horsey stated that Myanmar remains “deeply unsafe with no meaningful improvements in security or governance.” The TPS revocation takes effect on 26 January.
