Trump admin terminating deportation protections for foreign nationals from Burma
The Trump administration will revoke the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that has shielded Burmese migrants from deportation, with the change set to take effect on January 26, 2026.
Officials say the decision reflects “notable progress” in Burma, the war‑torn Southeast Asian nation that has suffered a long‑standing civil conflict since the 2021 military coup.
The move follows President Biden’s 2021 approval of TPS for more than 3,600 Burmese residents—a program that was expanded the previous year because “extraordinary and temporary conditions in Burma prevent individuals from safely returning.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explained that the status should now be considered truly temporary again. She noted that Burma’s “notable progress in governance and stability,” including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful ceasefire agreements, and improvements in local governance, means it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home.
Myanmar has been mired in civil war for over two decades, but the recent downturn in violence has spared some peace. According to the United Nations, more than 5,000 civilians have been killed and roughly 3.3 million people displaced by the ongoing conflict.
TPS is a federal tool that offers legal status and work permits to migrants fleeing disaster‑affected or war‑torn regions. Since the 1990s it has helped many displaced people find safety in the United States.
The Trump administration has already rolled back several Biden‑era TPS extensions, including those for Somalia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Haiti.
The DHS cited a review of current conditions in Burma, conducted with input from the Department of State, when deciding that the country no longer meets the TPS criteria.
The department said the Secretary determined that, overall, the situation improved enough for Burmese citizens to return home safely and that allowing them to remain in the United States would no longer serve the national interest.
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