The United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Monday (November 24th) that the U.S. will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Burma, with approximately 3,000 Burmese nationals currently residing in the U.S. required to return to Burma by January 26, 2026.
In her statement, Noem stated, “The situation in Burma has improved to the extent that it is safe for Burmese nationals to return, hence we will terminate the Temporary Protected Status. Burma has made significant progress in governance and stability, including ending the national state of emergency, planning for free and fair elections, reaching ceasefire agreements, and improving local governance, which all contribute to elevating public service levels and promoting national reconciliation.”
After reviewing the situation in Burma by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and consultations with the State Department, Noem determined that the conditions in Burma no longer meet the requirements for granting Temporary Protected Status.
Noem also asserted that allowing Burmese nationals to remain temporarily in the U.S. does not align with the national interest, therefore recommending that Burmese nationals proactively report their departure using the “CBP Home” application.
The Temporary Protected Status granted to Burmese nationals by the U.S. will expire on November 25th, with a 60-day transition period provided to allow them to return to their country by the end of January next year.
Burmese nationals currently residing in the U.S. initially obtained Temporary Protected Status in March 2021, allowing them to reside and work in the U.S. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas extended this status by 18 months in March 2024, deeming the situation in Burma at that time still unsuitable for their return.
However, the decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status has been criticized by some groups, including the non-profit organization Human Rights Watch, which specializes in investigating and reporting human rights abuses. The organization emphasized that the elections planned by the Burmese government have issues of fraud, and military atrocities and attacks on civilians have not decreased.
On November 19th, the U.S. jointly proposed a United Nations resolution stating that the Burmese military government continues to engage in civil war. The U.S. also pointed out that this regime commits atrocities against citizens, including arresting, abusing political dissenters, killing unarmed civilians, and committing sexual violence, among other human rights violations.
The New York-headquartered non-partisan think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, stated that since Burma’s independence from Britain in 1948, the country has been plagued by military rule, civil war, poor governance, and widespread poverty.
With a total population of approximately 55 million, Burma is bordered by India and Bangladesh to the northwest, China to the northeast, and Laos and Thailand to the east and southeast.
A BBC investigation from last year showed that since the 2021 coup, the Burmese military government still controls about 21% of the country’s territory, while rebel forces and various ethnic armed groups control approximately 42% of the regions.