The US has dropped its protection scheme for Myanmar nationals living in the country, effectively stripping them of their right to work and remain in the US without fear of deportation. This decision was welcomed by the junta in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a devastating civil war and facing international condemnation for human rights abuses.
The move comes after the Trump administration announced that it would be ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar citizens, citing "substantial steps toward political stability" including forthcoming elections and the end of emergency rule. However, critics argue that the elections are far from free or fair, with localized martial law still in place and the military conscripting men to bolster its ranks.
The junta's spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, hailed the decision as a "positive statement", urging Myanmar citizens living abroad to return home and participate in the upcoming elections. However, human rights monitors are sounding the alarm, warning of serious international crimes committed in Myanmar ahead of the scheduled vote, including detention of election critics and airstrikes that may amount to persecution and spreading terror.
The implications of this move are stark for the 4,000 Myanmar citizens living in the US, many of whom fled their war-torn country after a military coup in 2021. With no official toll on the civil war, estimates vary widely, but it is estimated that as many as 90,000 people have been killed since then.
Critics are calling the TPS stoppage "a slap in the face" to the community of exiled citizens, who were relying on the protection scheme to stay safe and rebuild their lives. The move has also drawn criticism from human rights organizations, including the UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar, which warned that the elections are being held under "unfathomable circumstances".
The move comes after the Trump administration announced that it would be ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar citizens, citing "substantial steps toward political stability" including forthcoming elections and the end of emergency rule. However, critics argue that the elections are far from free or fair, with localized martial law still in place and the military conscripting men to bolster its ranks.
The junta's spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, hailed the decision as a "positive statement", urging Myanmar citizens living abroad to return home and participate in the upcoming elections. However, human rights monitors are sounding the alarm, warning of serious international crimes committed in Myanmar ahead of the scheduled vote, including detention of election critics and airstrikes that may amount to persecution and spreading terror.
The implications of this move are stark for the 4,000 Myanmar citizens living in the US, many of whom fled their war-torn country after a military coup in 2021. With no official toll on the civil war, estimates vary widely, but it is estimated that as many as 90,000 people have been killed since then.
Critics are calling the TPS stoppage "a slap in the face" to the community of exiled citizens, who were relying on the protection scheme to stay safe and rebuild their lives. The move has also drawn criticism from human rights organizations, including the UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar, which warned that the elections are being held under "unfathomable circumstances".
This decision is super concerning. I mean, if they're really saying that their country is stable enough for these people to return, how can they justify not having a free and fair election first? 
The fact that human rights organizations are calling BS on the whole thing makes me think we should be skeptical of this move too. What's really going on in Myanmar? And what about all those 90k+ people who have been killed in the civil war? Did anyone consider the consequences of taking away their protection here? 
I'm really worried about what's happening in the US with those 4,000 Myanmar folks living there. It feels like they're being thrown back into a war zone just to participate in some questionable elections. The human rights situation in Myanmar is super dire and this move is just going to put them in more danger. 
the US is literally just gonna let a country with a history of mass killings and human rights abuses run wild over here... 
the junta is just going to keep on committing atrocities and the US will just be like "yeah, no big deal, free for all!" 
it's a slap in the face (literally) to the 4k+ ppl who fled their country, only to come back home now... 
it's like we're not even thinking about the consequences of our actions here. what does it say about us as a country that we can't even be bothered to protect our own citizens? 
. The junta might be celebrating, but I don't get why anyone would think these elections are legit when there's still martial law and the military is basically running the show 
. And what about all those human rights abuses? 
It's like they're turning a blind eye or something... not good, folks 
The stats are wild - 4k people in the US could be deported now 
. And 90k+ killed since 2021? That's heartbreaking 
. If the elections were genuine, wouldn't the junta be working on real reform? Not just staging a show 
.
. Now they'll have to navigate this messy situation without safety net 
. It's staggering to think that some people are more 'worthy' than others just because they're fleeing war 
. Something about "no accountability for human rights abuses"... sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. Now, they're being told to return home? Are we kidding ourselves? 
. And what really gets me is that the military junta is basically gloating about this decision, which just shows how tone deaf they are 
, and we need to be supporting those who are fleeing persecution. This TPS stoppage is a huge step backward 
, and I'm not sure what's next for these people... it's just really disheartening