Termination of Temporary Status Puts Burmese Nationals at Grave Risk

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) is deeply concerned by the recent decision of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end temporary immigration protections for Burmese nationals at a time when their home country remains one of the most violent and unstable in the world. The change was announced on 24 November 2025, when DHS issued a draft notice in the Federal Register, attributing the decision to terminate the program to the new Homeland Security leadership as part of a broader review ordered by the Trump administration.

The military Junta, through its spokesperson, quickly attempted to present this decision as proof that conditions in the country have “improved,” claiming that returning citizens will be able to vote and “contribute to a developing nation.” These claims are not only misleading but also dangerous.

The reality inside Burma is far from what the Junta asserts. It remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world under an increasingly violent and unpredictable military regime. Forced returns under these conditions would put Burmese nationals at serious risk, including arrest, torture, forced conscription, disappearance, and death.

Far from improving, the situation has worsened quickly in recent months as the Junta ramps up its airstrikes, drone attacks, artillery shelling, and scorched-earth tactics in an effort to increase territorial control ahead of its planned sham election. These attacks are not random. They intentionally target villages, religious buildings, schools, health facilities, and sites where internally displaced people are seeking shelter. Civilians are killed in their homes, on the road, in their fields, and while trying to escape to safety.

The scale of violence is staggering. Since the attempted coup in 2021, the Junta has arrested more than 30,020 people, with 22,699 still detained, many in secret or in inhumane prison conditions. Among them are 629 children and 6,191 women, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). At least 7,496 people have been verified killed, and more than 4,000 additional deaths likely remain unverified due to the dangers of documentation. Children and women are among the dead, including 973 children and 1,926 women whose deaths have been confirmed.

The military’s aerial campaign has become even more violent. Since 2021, the Junta has carried out over 5,000 airstrikes across the country. In August 2025 alone, at least 235 civilians died in 204 airstrikes, making it one of the deadliest months so far. Air attacks increased sharply in 2024, rising by 104 percent compared to 2023. By early 2025, Burma averaged nearly seven airstrikes per day. After the devastating Sagaing earthquake on 28 March 2025, the military intensified its attacks further. From 28 March to 16 June 2025, at least 982 strikes and artillery barrages were launched against towns, villages, and temporary displacement sites already suffering from disaster.

These figures are not just numbers. They signify families torn apart, communities eradicated, and children raised in fear. Survivors recount scenes of burning homes, bodies in the streets, and countless nights of aircraft circling overhead. Many who are detained vanish. Torture remains widespread: detainees report beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, and suffocation during interrogations. The fate of thousands remains unknown.

In HURFOM’s target areas in Mon State, Karen State, and the Tanintharyi Region, HURFOM and partner organizations have documented a sharp increase in violations. Troops conduct raids, burn houses, loot property, deploy drones to drop explosives, and forcibly recruit young people into the military. Entire villages are displaced overnight. Families live under constant surveillance, fearing they will be accused of supporting resistance groups. There is no effective justice system to protect civilians. Impunity prevails.

Nationwide, widespread armed conflict has triggered massive displacement. Every day, more families flee their homes as fighting intensifies. The number of internally displaced persons continues to rise rapidly. Villages are emptied overnight due to airstrikes or ground assaults. Temporary shelters in forests, plantations, and monastery compounds are overcrowded and lack clean water, food, or medical care. The humanitarian crisis is worsening. The Junta restricts aid supplies, blocks travel routes, and arrests volunteers trying to deliver support.

This is the environment the Junta falsely claims is “improving” and safe for citizens to return to.

Burmese nationals forced to return to this environment will not find safety; they will be entering a country where survival itself is uncertain. Citizens who have lived abroad may face additional scrutiny from the military. Returnees are often viewed with suspicion, especially if they have been in democratic countries or regions with active diaspora networks. Many returnees report being questioned at airports, having their phones searched, or being monitored by local authorities.

“As someone who listens every day to the stories of our people, I am deeply worried about what will happen to Burmese nationals if they are forced to return under the current Junta,” said Nai Aue Mon, Program Director of HURFOM.

“When they arrive, they may be questioned or detained immediately. Having lived abroad is enough for authorities to accuse them of involvement in politics or supporting resistance groups. Many, including women and young people, will face pressure to join the military as the Junta struggles to fill its ranks.

On the roads, soldiers at checkpoints routinely demand money, search phones, and threaten detention. If someone refuses to cooperate, they can be beaten or worse. Once taken into custody, they risk long prison terms under unjust and politically motivated laws, sometimes even life sentences for minor or fabricated charges. Inside the detention centres, torture is common. We have seen too many cases of detainees dying behind bars in complete darkness. Forcing our people back into these conditions is not a policy decision. It is a direct threat to their lives,” Nai Aue Mon added.

Further, the Trump administration’s move to revoke temporary protections does not reflect the reality of Burma’s ongoing crisis. It risks forcing vulnerable individuals back into a conflict zone where they could face severe persecution and human rights abuses. This decision is especially distressing for those who fled violence and repression, hoping for a chance at safety abroad. For families, students, activists, and workers from Burma, this policy creates fear and uncertainty at a time when they already struggle with the trauma of displacement. It sends a message that humanitarian protection is being replaced by political calculation.

HURFOM strongly urges international leaders, policymakers, and humanitarian actors to recognize that Myanmar is not a safe country. We call for the protection of those fleeing the junta’s brutality. No one should be forced back into a country where their life could be in immediate danger. We appeal for continued humanitarian protections and compassionate policies that uphold the rights and safety of all displaced people in Burma.

Media Contact

Nai Aue Mon, HURFOM Program Director
Email: auemon@rehmonnya.org
Signal: +66 86 167 9741

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