• The US is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar citizens, set to take effect 60 days after the announcement.
• The Department of Homeland Security claims the situation in Myanmar has improved enough for safe return.
• The move has sparked concerns regarding ongoing civil unrest and human rights abuses in Myanmar.
• Critics argue the US analysis of Myanmar's stability is overly optimistic amid ongoing violence and oppression.
• Nearly 4,000 Myanmar nationals currently benefit from TPS, granted as the country faces civil turmoil.

The United States has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Myanmar, a decision made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The move is set to take effect 60 days from the announcement, suggesting that the conditions in Myanmar have sufficiently improved to allow for the safe return of nearly 4,000 affected individuals, according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. In a statement, she indicated that, “Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability,” contributing to this decision, as reported by Channel News Asia and India Times.

This development comes in light of ongoing civil strife in Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021, which has led to widespread displacement. Despite claims of improvement, human rights watchdogs and international observers have criticized the US Department's assessment, suggesting that ongoing violence and political repression, including the recent crackdown on opposition voices, undermine the fundamental safety of returning citizens. In this regard, organizations like Human Rights Watch have labeled the announcement as unrealistic, calling the upcoming elections “theatre” instead of a genuine democratic process, according to Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

The DHS had previously extended Myanmar's TPS twice, the last of which was implemented under former President Biden. The end of TPS for Myanmar nationals is part of a broader immigration policy shift under the Trump administration, which has sought to rescind TPS for various national groups facing challenges, such as Haiti and Venezuela. The upcoming termination of TPS has raised urgent questions about the safety and rights of potential returnees amidst ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest in Myanmar, as emphasized by the current US travel warnings regarding the country, according to sources including India Times, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.