The Minnesota Senate Asian Pacific Caucus has issued a forceful rebuke of the Trump administration's latest policy move—a decision to strip nearly 4,000 Myanmar nationals of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States, effective January 26, 2026. In a statement, the Caucus vehemently opposed the rescinding of TPS for members of Minnesota's Karen community, who have been recognized to have fled extensive persecution, civil strife, and even genocide in their home country. Records indicate that Minnesota is home to the largest Karen population in the U.S., with approximately 20,000 individuals.
Despite the administration's assertion of improved conditions in Myanmar, the Caucus argued that this narrative blatantly overlooks ongoing strife within the Southeast Asian nation. Since a military coup overthrew the government in 2021, Myanmar has been plagued by civil conflict marked by a reported 6,500 civilian fatalities involving military aggression, as per United Nations findings, which also estimate massive displacement figures north of 3.5 million people. The US State Department has since issued travel warnings to Americans against visiting Myanmar due to the persistent hostilities. Sources reflect a consensus among international observers, including the UN, that Myanmar remains entirely unsuitable for the return of refugees—a stance the US itself has outwardly supported in global forums.
According to a statement released by the Senate DFL, the Minnesota Senate Asian Pacific Caucus characterized the termination of TPS as an act that "ignores reality and puts lives at risk." The Caucus expressed unwavering support for the Karen individuals who have contributed significantly to the state's cultural and economic realms. They described their constituents as "our neighbors" who have been integral in diversifying the Minnesota way of life. The statement further emphasized the importance of taking immediate legislative action to counteract the federal government's decision and to protect immigrant communities across Minnesota.
Notably, the Karen community's plight is part of what the Caucus delineates as a "broader assault on humanitarian protections," linking it to similar TPS terminations for immigrants from Somalia, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Venezuela. The Caucus underlined the pattern of systematic rollbacks of safeguards for vulnerable populations by the current administration. In the words stated, "The pattern is unmistakable: this administration is systematically dismantling protections for the world’s most vulnerable people, including our Minnesota neighbors." The Minnesota Senate Asian Pacific Caucus representatives, including Sen. Foung Hawj, Sen. Susan Pha, and Sen. Tou Xiong, collectively urge the congressional delegation from Minnesota to urgently block these terminations, viewing them as part of a broader, detrimental policy trend.
