US drops protection for Myanmar refugees, junta hails decision as a positive statement.
The Trump administration has officially ended its temporary protected status (TPS) program for Myanmar nationals living in the US, paving the way for their deportation back to the war-torn country. The decision was met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and exile communities who say it is a slap in the face to those fleeing persecution.
As many as 4,000 Myanmar citizens have been living in the US under TPS, which shields foreign nationals from deportation to disaster zones and allows them the right to work. However, Washington cited "substantial steps toward political stability" - including upcoming elections and the end of emergency rule - as reasons for the program's termination.
The junta, however, hailed the decision as a positive statement. A junta spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, welcomed the move, urging Myanmar nationals in the US to "come back home" and participate in the general election. He described the move as a sign that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home.
Critics, however, paint a far bleaker picture. Human rights groups say that the junta's promised elections are a sham, with widespread human rights abuses and repression continuing unabated. The UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM) has warned of "serious international crimes committed" in the country ahead of the scheduled vote.
Myanmar is embroiled in a devastating civil war that has killed an estimated 90,000 people since the 2021 coup, which saw the military seize power and jailing democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. The country's military has been accused of human rights abuses, including detention of election critics and airstrikes on civilian targets.
The move to end TPS for Myanmar nationals comes as the international community remains divided over how to respond to the junta's actions.
The Trump administration has officially ended its temporary protected status (TPS) program for Myanmar nationals living in the US, paving the way for their deportation back to the war-torn country. The decision was met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and exile communities who say it is a slap in the face to those fleeing persecution.
As many as 4,000 Myanmar citizens have been living in the US under TPS, which shields foreign nationals from deportation to disaster zones and allows them the right to work. However, Washington cited "substantial steps toward political stability" - including upcoming elections and the end of emergency rule - as reasons for the program's termination.
The junta, however, hailed the decision as a positive statement. A junta spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, welcomed the move, urging Myanmar nationals in the US to "come back home" and participate in the general election. He described the move as a sign that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home.
Critics, however, paint a far bleaker picture. Human rights groups say that the junta's promised elections are a sham, with widespread human rights abuses and repression continuing unabated. The UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM) has warned of "serious international crimes committed" in the country ahead of the scheduled vote.
Myanmar is embroiled in a devastating civil war that has killed an estimated 90,000 people since the 2021 coup, which saw the military seize power and jailing democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. The country's military has been accused of human rights abuses, including detention of election critics and airstrikes on civilian targets.
The move to end TPS for Myanmar nationals comes as the international community remains divided over how to respond to the junta's actions.
I'm so worried about these 4,000 innocent people who are being forced back to a country where they'll be at risk of persecution and even death. The thought of them having to participate in fake elections is heartbreaking 
. What kind of message does that send? That the international community doesn't care about human rights or justice?
. I just hope someone steps in and helps these people find safety and security elsewhere 
. I mean, what's considered "stable" in Myanmar? The junta says it's safe for Burmese citizens to return home, but human rights groups say otherwise 
.
. The international community needs to speak up and demand action for these ppl 
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this is a huge mistake, US is basically saying they dont care about these ppl fleeing war & persecution its like they're just gonna send them back out into the lion's den... what if they get killed? whats the point of 'political stability' when u got people dying left & right? 
... 4,000 people who've been living in the US for years just chillin' without a visa are being sent back home? It's not like it's a bad thing or anything. I mean, the junta said it's safe for them to come back and vote, so that's gotta count for something 
... but seriously, if people don't wanna go back, why should they be forced to? It's their country, right? They can just stay in the US and figure out a new system. The UN is always saying stuff about human rights abuses, but what do they know? 
This is a total disaster! 4,000 people are being sent back to a country that's still in the middle of a bloody civil war? 
It's not like there's even any real guarantee that they won't be targeted or persecuted if they go back. And what about their families, who will likely still be living in the same country where they're being brutalized?
4,000 lives are at stake here and I don't think we should just be ignoring what's going on in Myanmar because of some "political stability" newsflash: just 'cause there's an election doesn't mean everything is okay 
who fled for their lives. I don't get why the gov't is so quick to cave in to the junta's demands - aren't these ppl supposed to be protected? 
. It's like the US is just turning its back on all these innocent people who are fleeing for their lives. And what's with this "political stability" excuse? Like, has anyone actually seen that happening in Myanmar?