In 2021, Su Htet, a citizen of Myanmar, was attending a U.S. university. Then, just weeks later, a brutal military coup crushed Myanmar’s budding democracy. The political upheaval led the U.S. government to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to nationals of Myanmar. This status grants them temporary relief from deportation, as well as the ability to work and study legally in the U.S. But recent changes have transformed her comfort into fear.
In a surprise move, the U.S. government terminated TPS for the 1,100 Myanmar nationals living in the U.S. They argued that the situation in the war-torn nation has improved sufficiently for safe returns. This revocation, effective January 2024, places individuals like Su Htet in a precarious legal situation without work or residency rights. Having dreamed of returning home after finishing her studies, Su Htet now faces new fears about what is next for her—and many in her situation—in the U.S.
Unfolding Crisis in Myanmar
So many things have happened since the coup that have contributed to a worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar today. The military takeover has resulted in violent clashes, widespread human rights violations, and a deteriorating economic situation that continues to displace countless citizens. Analysts assert that there have been no “meaningful improvements” that would justify the U.S. government’s claim that it is safe for individuals to return.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the TPS designation for Myanmar was unwarranted. This claim has produced backlash from all sides. Critics contend that it turns a blind eye to the cruel realities that remain for those still traumatized in Myanmar. Su Htet’s case demonstrates a serious need. Ending TPS not only has a devastating impact on individual lives, it raises significant moral and humanitarian concerns about U.S. immigration policy and the direction it should go.
“Stripping refugees of protection, blocking consideration of all asylum claims, and threatening deportation to Afghanistan is not accountability for a criminal act, but rather spurning those who sought safety in the United States.” – Bill Frelick
The potential revocation of TPS would be catastrophic for many, casting them back into legal limbo. Scarcity of alternatives forces those most impacted to choose between more dangerous transportation or facing increased difficulty accessing essential needs. As a result, they’re unable to show up for their communities.
Broader Implications for Asylum Seekers
While the U.S. administration is making it much more difficult for people to migrate for humanitarian reasons, cessation of TPS for Myanmar nationals embodies this disturbing trend. The damage caused by the Trump administration’s reckless policies has shackled these vulnerable diaspora communities in a state of trepidation about their own futures.
Wessal Mukhtar, an Afghan asylum seeker, was employed by the U.S. before Kabul’s fall in 2021. In a post recently shared across the state, he described how the new measures have plunged him and his family into chaos. His asylum application has been stuck in limbo since the day he arrived in the U.S. He shared how this financial uncertainty has impacted his family life.
“Every Afghan family I know is living with this constant stress — from the youngest child to the oldest parent.” – Wessal Mukhtar
Mukhtar’s experience was symbolic of the larger pain and frustration experienced by asylum seekers enduring excruciatingly long wait times and now threatened with deportation. He expressed profound alarm about these proposed changes. They have “shattered every dimension” of their existence and crash landed mental pressure cooker on families.
“What will happen next? What kind of future will we have?” – Wessal Mukhtar
In addition, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has complicated matters by freezing all asylum applications. This decision comes on the heels of a horrific accident involving five National Guard soldiers in Washington. In May 2020, USCIS director Joseph Edlow reiterated the goal of ensuring “the most robust vetting and screening processes possible” as his agency’s top priority.
“USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” – Joseph Edlow
This situation has left many individuals like Mukhtar grappling with uncertainty about their legal status and future in the U.S.
Humanitarian Concerns and Criticism
Rights organizations have criticized the U.S. government’s approach to immigration and asylum processing, labeling it as “collective punishment” against vulnerable populations. They argue that punitive measures affect not just individuals accused of wrongdoing but entire communities seeking refuge from violence and instability.
The revocation of TPS for Myanmar nationals demonstrates grave concerns. Affected individuals now must deal with the overwhelming and dispiriting prospect of going back to unspeakable conditions in their native country. Yet experts caution that such policies fail to treat the root causes of migration and, in fact, deepen pre-existing vulnerabilities.
“Responding to the horrific actions of one individual by cancelling all Afghan visa and asylum processing is not justice, but scapegoating.” – Bill Frelick
Advocates are already on the move advocating for grounded reassessment for each TPS designation. Or to call for a more humane immigration policy that centers the safety and well-being of those fleeing violence and seeking asylum.
