The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it was ending the Temporary Protected Status designation for thousands of migrants from Myanmar in January, despite its ongoing civil war.

The TPS program allows certain migrants to stay in the United States legally if they cannot return home due to natural disasters, armed conflicts or other extraordinary events. 

The Secretary of Homeland Security decides 60 days before a designation expires whether to renew the protections or end them. If countries continue to meet certain criteria, the protections can be extended at six, 12 or 18-month intervals.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she reached the decision after consultation with the State Department and determined conditions have improved in the country to the point where citizens can safely return home.

“This decision restores TPS to its original status as temporary,” Noem said in a statement. “Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful ceasefire agreements, and improved local governance contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation.”  

The order is expected to impact nearly 4,000 migrants, and marks the Trump administration's latest effort to crackdown on immigration. It has also ended protections for migrants from countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Syria, Sudan and Venezuela.

The protections will expire on Jan. 26, 2026.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.