The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burmese immigrants, stating that conditions in Myanmar have improved enough for citizens to safely return.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem highlighted this decision, noting significant advancements in governance and stability in Burma, such as the end of the state of emergency, plans for free elections, a ceasefire agreement, and improved local governance contributing to better public services and national reconciliation.
Burma, or Myanmar, was first designated for TPS in May 2021 by former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. In March 2024, President Mayorkas extended this status for an additional 18 months, set to expire on November 25, 2025.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated that this TPS designation will officially end on January 26, 2026. Noem explained that this decision was made after discussions with various interagency partners, concluding that the presence of Burmese nationals in the U.S. no longer aligns with national interests.
Furthermore, USCIS is encouraging Burmese nationals to utilize the CBP Home app for self-deportation if they choose. Recently, Noem also ended TPS for individuals from several other countries, including Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Venezuela, among others.
In a statement on November 13, USCIS emphasized its commitment to ensuring that TPS remains genuinely temporary, announcing plans for more stringent screening processes. Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Immigration, remarked on the necessity of distinguishing between legal and illegal immigration, highlighting concerns over its impact on the labor market and public resources.
President Trump also declared on Friday that he would end TPS for Somali immigrants in Minnesota, following allegations of financial connections between money given to al-Shabab and a series of fraud schemes in the state. He described Minnesota as a center for money laundering operations and stated that he would end the status for Somalis, emphasizing that it’s time for them to return to their countries.
