A US federal judge has stopped the government from ending deportation protections for migrants from Myanmar, giving relief to about 4,000 people living in the United States.
On Friday, US District Judge Matthew Kennelly ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to delay its plan to cancel Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar nationals while a legal case continues. TPS allows migrants to live and work in the US legally if their home country is unsafe due to war, disaster, or other serious crises.
The Trump administration had planned to end the protection on Monday, arguing that conditions in Myanmar had improved and that people could safely return. However, the judge said the decision lacked a genuine and factual basis.
Judge Kennelly noted that Myanmar remains unstable following a military coup in 2021, which removed a civilian government and triggered widespread violence and armed resistance. He also pointed out that the recent elections organised by the military junta have been widely criticised by the United Nations, Western governments, and human rights groups as not free or fair.
In his ruling, the judge said it appeared the decision to end TPS was driven more by the administration’s broader effort to reduce immigration rather than by real improvements in Myanmar’s conditions. He added that there was no clear evidence showing the government had properly reviewed the situation in the country.
The judge has scheduled a court hearing for February 6 to further review the case. The Trump administration had not issued an immediate response to the ruling.
Since returning to office in 2025, President Trump has pushed a tough immigration agenda, including increased deportations. Several lawsuits are currently challenging efforts to remove protections like TPS for migrants from different countries.
For now, migrants from Myanmar under TPS can remain in the US legally and continue working while the court case moves forward.
