Dreams of refugees in Myanmar to live in America with Trump’s orders

The family of four refugees filled seven bags of their new life in America. They mobilized the blankets, tin boards, and one code to cleanse the ground in their future home and one to cut the meat. They left behind what they were not supposed to bring: a roll, fish paste, traditional drugs from the original Myanmar.

But the family did not reach Ohio. Last month, their flights were suddenly canceled. Now with President Trump’s order Standing the resettlement of refugeesEven for thousands of those who went through the approval process that lasted years, they say they have lost hope that they would ever become Americans.

“I have no opinion on American policy,” said Saw Steel Wah Doh, a 35 -year -old laboratory technician, who is now returning to a refugee camp in Thailand with his wife and two children. “I want to become an American, work hard, and love democracy.”

Refugees in the Trump administration and freezing external aid are making efforts to address one of the world’s most humanitarian crises. Not so long ago, Myanmar was a symbol of the democratic reform that the West praised. Today, four years after the army prolonged an elected government, It is an international pariah Big to a large extent, it has not been verified Civil bombs.

On Wednesday, NGOs that enhance democracy and provide life -saving treatment for refugees and people who were displaced by the conflict in Myanmar said they were told that grants from the national endowment of democracy had been suspended immediately.

NED was created by Congress during the Reagan era to enhance democracy all over the world. Three representatives of the relief groups related to Myanmar said they were told that NED was unable to attract funds from the US Treasury to pay the price of already approved grants.

Ned Stoping comes two weeks after President Trump’s order Freezing most external aidIncluding the money spent by the United States Agency for International Development. The programs related to Myanmar have received about $ 150 million of pledges from the United States Agency for International Development, according to local observers. Aid funds were to be used for advantages, including HIV treatment and support for exiled media reports on the civil war in Myanmar.

In 2024, Myanmar was The second is more dangerous and violent A place on the ground, according to the monitoring of the global conflict. More than 3 million people are now displaced; Thousands were killed.

The United States has long provided a legal way to immigration to refugees who flee persecution, war or other threats of their lives. The guidance of Mr. Trump closed the door to Afghan translators who risked their lives for American soldiers and those who flee religious persecution. The dreams of people from Myanmar, some of whom survived persecution decades ago.

In Bangladesh, the settlement of a sprawling tent for the Rohingya Muslims, which was expelled from Myanmar, is the largest refugee camp in the world. Muhammad al -Islam was supposed to be resettled in the United States on February 13, along with his family. This dream has withered.

Mr. Islam, 43, has been a refugee since he was 7 years old, but he spoke English fluently and works as a teacher in the camps.

“I was never in a semester, I only studied in tents shelters,” he said. “I want my children to learn in a real school, with walls and offices, in the United States.”

the 2021 coupThe Myanmar generals have re -responsibility, Darw of the two parties condemnation in Washington. During the first term of Mr. Trump as a president, his administration officially described the military violence campaign in Myanmar against Rohingya genocide. Religious minorities from Myanmar also honored the White House.

But the American support for those who fight the Military Council in Myanmar has never dealt with the monetary commitment to Ukraine, Israel, or other aid recipients. In Myanmar’s forests, University studentsYoung professionals and even Poets who took the weapon The overthrow of the generals expressed their frustration with the extent of their international interest in their ordeal.

In late 2022, President Biden signed the Burma Law, which aims to punish those who abuse human rights in the country and provide assistance to those who oppose the Military Council. (Burma is the former Myanmar name.)

Last month, Mr. Trump has allocated a $ 45 million scholarship program that helps Myanmar students fleeing the civil war and hopes to study conflict resolution and peacebuilding. With the support of the United States Agency for International Development, the educational fund is called a comprehensive development and scholarship program.

“We also prevented $ 45 million from granting diversity in Burma,” said Mr. Trump, adding: “You can imagine where this money has gone.”

In a post on X, the alleged government competence Ministry described the program as a “DEI grant” and said it was canceled. Mr. Trump said that federal funds should not be used to support diversity, fairness and integration.

“It looks like they closed him because they could,” said Ko Halwan Ping Thieh. He was studying for a master’s degree in general policy in Thailand.

While the opposition militias prompted the Myanmar army of vast areas of land, the forces of the Military Council have taken revenge on civilians through a Air air campaign Earth mines are scattered in thousands of villages. The army imposed the recruitment and it is Childhood kidnapping From the streets to fill its ranks.

For hundreds of refugees in Myanmar who have already been cleared to go to the United States, the possibility of migration to no name is other difficulties in the lives suffering from conflict, poverty and insecurity. HTON HTUN saw that his wife and two daughters were already resettled in Vermont. He is supposed to fly to the United States in late February, but he said he has no great hope that the journey would advance.

“My heart is weak, and I am afraid that I will not see my family again,” he said. “Please pray to go to the United States”

Believing that he was on his way to America, Mr. Steel Wah Wah Duh left his laboratory function in his refugee camp in Thailand. His father, who also hopes to resettle him in the United States, cannot obtain the medical examinations he needs for immigration papers because the camp clinics were closed by freezing Mr. Trump’s financing.

Life -saving aid is supposed to be exempt from banning spending, but health facilities are still closed. Two non -profit representatives said that they were told that they would need to finance the programs themselves before receiving compensation from American relief agencies. They said that what was a help to save life did not explain to them.

In the Rohingya refugee camps, health clinics, learning centers and sewage programs funded by the United States closed. In one of the most packed places on the face of the earth, the sewers overflow, which constitutes the threat of the disease, says residents.

Suffering from heart disease and kidney disease, Ghoul sea wanders in the American clinic several times over the past two weeks, only to be removed.

“I have no hope,” she said.

In Likwood, Ohio, the cousin of Mr. Steel Waho, Lay Hitra, 19, said that he felt dismay for his relatives who did not appear as expected.

Mr. HToo was approximately 8 when he and his family moved to the United States. He did not speak English.

His father is now a mechanic in a factory that makes gambling materials. Mr. HToo is studying health at the Community College, the first in his family to reach higher education.

Now an American citizen, Mr. HTO said he had not voted in the elections last year. He said that some other refugees in Myanmar in the city, including family friends, support Mr. Trump because they consider him a talented businessman.

Mr. HTOO said: “Frankly, I live in refugee camps, I remember it, not even 100 percent of life.” “If I am still stuck there and knew that other people voted for a man who canceled my chance of a new life, I will be very angry.”

Saiful Arakani contributed to the reports from Teknaf, Bangladesh.