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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services just announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for members of the Burma diaspora in the US. As the first social services agency for people from Burma in the US, the Karen Organization of Minnesota is deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of all from Burma living in Minnesota and throughout the United States.
TPS is a program that allows people whose home countries are considered unsafe to live and work in the US for a temporary, but extendable, time period.
Burma is home to more than 135 different ethnic groups, each with its own culture, values, history and language. Besides the Karen, Minnesota has provided refuge to Karenni, Mon, and Chin people. Minnesota is home to approximately 20,000 people who are referred to as “Karen” or “Knyaw”. The Karen community in Minnesota includes people who were forcibly displaced from their homes in Burma where they were indigenous to that land.
Many ask if we know the exact number of people in Minnesota this will affect. The TPS information is not easily tracked (the data we do have is not disaggregated to allow us to land on the number). There are a handful of reasons people may have this status. Some people have fled the unsafe conditions and are pursuing higher education here under this designation.
The 2021 military coup in Burma has led to ongoing civil unrest that has made the country an unsafe place to live. KOM urges the U.S. government to reopen resettlement for people from Burma and to extend humanitarian protections to people who have come to the U.S. on visas. Returning to Burma due to expired TPS status would involve un-safe conditions.
Published November 26th, 2025 by the Karen Organization of Minnesota.
Photo at top of page: On March 13th, 2021, the “Multi Ethnic Youth Movement for Human Rights” led a march from Harriet Island to the State Capitol. At the Capitol, there was live music, dance, poetry, and speeches that drew thousands from the local community.
