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U.S. to End Temporary Protected Status for Nearly 4,000 Immigrants from Myanmar

The Department of Homeland Security has moved to end Temporary Protected Status for about 3,969 people from Myanmar, saying recent "improvements" in governance and concerns about vetting and security justify the change. TPS, created in 1990, provides temporary deportation protection and work permits for people from countries facing conflict or disasters. Myanmar has experienced severe violence since the 2021 coup, with UN estimates of thousands killed and millions displaced. Unless courts block the decision, the designation will lapse in late January.

12:09 AM, 11/25/2025Politics
U.S. to End Temporary Protected Status for Nearly 4,000 Immigrants from Myanmar

The Department of Homeland Security has announced it will end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 3,969 immigrants from Myanmar, a country that has suffered years of intense conflict and humanitarian upheaval. Unless a court blocks the decision, the designation is scheduled to expire in late January, which would make many current TPS beneficiaries eligible for arrest and removal.

What the DHS decision says

In an official notice, DHS acknowledged that Myanmar "continues to face humanitarian challenges" but said recent "improvements" in governance and stability justify terminating the TPS designation. The department also cited concerns about the ability to fully vet applicants from Myanmar and noted that some TPS beneficiaries have been the subject of national security or immigration fraud investigations.

What is TPS and why it matters

Created by Congress in 1990, Temporary Protected Status allows the U.S. government to grant temporary work authorization and protection from deportation to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions that make return unsafe. Administrations of both parties have used the program; in recent years, the designation has been extended or expanded for multiple countries.

Context: the situation in Myanmar

Myanmar has been embroiled in widespread violence and political instability since the military's 2021 coup. Armed groups have clashed with the military across the country, and minority communities — including Rohingya Muslims — have long faced persecution. The United Nations reported earlier this year that roughly 6,500 civilians had been killed as of March and that more than 3.5 million people had been displaced by the ongoing violence.

Impact and next steps

Federal figures show 3,969 people currently enrolled in Myanmar's TPS program. If the termination takes effect, those individuals will lose work authorization and protection from deportation after a winding-down period unless courts intervene. Advocates warn that ending TPS raises humanitarian concerns for people who originally fled conflict, while officials say the move addresses security and immigration-control priorities.

Note: The decision and its implementation are subject to legal challenges and possible stays; the timeline could change pending court rulings.

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