The Donald Trump administration Monday announced ending the Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar which will be effective on January 26, 2026. The situation in Myanmar has improved enough that Burmese nationals can now go home, Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem said.“This decision restores TPS to its original status as temporary,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “The situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home, so we are terminating the Temporary Protected Status. Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful ceasefire agreements, and improved local governance contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation,” Noem said, adding that given the improvement in the situation in Myanmar permitting Burmese nationals to remain temporarily in the US is contrary to the national interest of the US.The Department of Homeland Security estimates there are nearly 4,000 people from Myanmar currently living in the United States under the TPS designation.
What is Temporary Protected Status?
It is an immigration status in the US which is given to people who are from countries that are experiencing war or armed conflict, natural disasters or any other unsafe conditions. If the US government designates a country for TPS, people from that country who are already in the US can apply to stay legally for a set period. They can also legally work in the US.The TPS status for Myanmar had been extended for 18 months from May 26, 2024, until Nov. 25 under the administration of Trump’s Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the secretary, after consultation with appropriate US government agencies, is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the designation continue to be met, and, if so, how long to extend the designation, the DHS note said explaining the process of how the status is reviewed. “If the secretary determines that the conditions in the foreign state continue to meet the specific statutory criteria for Temporary Protected Status designation, Temporary Protected Status will be extended for an additional period of 6 months or, in the Secretary’s discretion, 12 or 18 months. If the Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the conditions for Temporary Protected Status designation, the Secretary must terminate the designation,” it said.
