BANGKOK (AP) — Rights groups have criticized the Trump administration’s recent decision to terminate temporary protected status (TPS) for citizens of Myanmar, despite ongoing civil conflict and significant human rights abuses in the country. The announcement, made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday, cited "notable progress in governance and stability," including plans for "free and fair elections" in December as reasons for the termination.
Noem stated that "the situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home." This assertion is contentious as Myanmar continues to grapple with violence following the military coup that ousted democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021. With Suu Kyi imprisoned and her political party banned, international observers have largely dismissed the upcoming elections as a legitimate political process.
Phil Robertson, the director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates, condemned Noem's decision, comparing it to "treating those people just like her family’s dog" that was killed for misbehavior. He stressed that the action would likely result in sending individuals back to conditions of imprisonment, torture, and potential death in Myanmar. "Secretary Noem is seriously deluded if she thinks the upcoming elections in Myanmar will be even remotely free and fair," he added, pointing to the military’s ongoing violence, including airstrikes that have killed numerous civilians.
Since the military takeover, Myanmar has seen a surge of violent confrontations, with pro-democracy factions gaining control over vast areas. In response to these developments, the military regime has intensified its efforts to reclaim territories held by opposition groups, leading to widespread casualties and human rights violations, such as the indiscriminate use of landmines, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the recruitment of civilians as human shields.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sought an arrest warrant for Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the military leader, for crimes against humanity related to the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority prior to the coup. The shadow National Unity Government (NUG), formed by lawmakers who were barred from office after the takeover, expressed disappointment over the TPS termination, stating it disregards the current realities in Myanmar. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt emphasized that ongoing violence, forced conscription, and lack of genuine opposition make any election claims invalid.
Noem stated that her decision was made in consultation with the State Department, which has published reports highlighting human rights abuses in Myanmar, including arbitrary killings and torture. Furthermore, the State Department’s travel guidance for Americans explicitly advises against traveling to Myanmar due to ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, over 30,000 individuals have been arrested for political reasons since the coup, with approximately 7,488 killed. In contrast, the Department of Homeland Security maintained that the overall conditions have improved to a point where it is deemed safe for Burmese citizens to return home, arguing that allowing them to remain in the U.S. contradicts national interest.
John Sifton, the Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, criticized the Homeland Security statement, claiming that extensive reporting on Myanmar contradicts nearly all of its assertions. He pointed out that the decision could impact up to 4,000 individuals. "Homeland Security’s misstatements in revoking TPS for people from Myanmar are so egregious that it is hard to imagine who would believe them," he stated.
