The United States has made a significant decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar, a move that places thousands of Burmese nationals at risk of deportation back to a country still grappling with severe political turmoil and violence.
What Temporary Protected Status Termination Means
The Biden administration confirmed on November 28, 2025, that TPS protections for Myanmar will officially expire on June 5, 2026. This decision reverses the protection granted in March 2021 following the military coup that overthrew Myanmar's democratically elected government.
Under the programme, approximately 2,300 Burmese nationals living in the US have been shielded from deportation and granted work authorisation. The Department of Homeland Security concluded that conditions in Myanmar have sufficiently improved to warrant ending the special protection, though this assessment has faced strong criticism from human rights organisations.
Immediate Consequences for Burmese Community
The termination affects not only the 2,300 principal TPS holders but potentially thousands more family members, including US-born children. Current beneficiaries must reapply for employment authorisation documents to maintain legal work status through the programme's expiration date.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated the decision followed a thorough review of conditions in Myanmar, but immigrant advocates argue the country remains extremely dangerous, particularly for those who have been publicly critical of the military regime.
Myanmar has been embroiled in what the United Nations describes as a civil war since the 2021 coup, with widespread reports of human rights abuses, political violence, and humanitarian crises affecting millions of citizens.
Community Response and Legal Challenges
Burmese communities across the United States have expressed alarm at the decision, with advocacy groups preparing potential legal challenges to extend protections. Many families face the terrifying prospect of separation or being forced to return to active conflict zones.
The TPS designation has been crucial for Burmese nationals who cannot safely return to their homeland, providing temporary sanctuary while political and humanitarian conditions remain dire. Human Rights Watch and other organisations have documented ongoing atrocities committed by Myanmar's military junta, including extrajudicial killings and persecution of ethnic minorities.
As the June 2026 deadline approaches, affected individuals must explore alternative immigration pathways or face the difficult choice between returning to danger or remaining in the US without legal status.
