Chin refugees from Myanmar in New Delhi, India, who were already approved for relocation to the United States (US) cannot now go because the US is currently not accepting any asylum seekers.
Chin refugee families, who had been granted asylum and permission to move to the US after years of living in New Delhi, had their dreams of resettling in the US dashed when Donald Trump issued an executive order on 20 January 2025 that immediately suspended all entry to the US for refugees under the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
Sayar Twan Pi who is a pastor at the Zion Zomi Baptist Church in New Delhi and also from Myanmar’s Chin State has been living as a refugee in New Delhi for 14 years and was due to go to the US for resettlement with his family, but they have had their travel plans cancelled.
He said to Khonumthung News: “For some, it was a heavy blow. They had already booked their flight tickets and set a specific date for their departure to the US. As for us, we had taken courses on how to adjust to life in America, and some of our classmates had even handed back their rented homes. They sold their belongings and furniture at half the price. The suspension order hit everyone hard. Now, many have to rebuild their lives from scratch here in New Delhi. We've also talked about selling our properties, but thankfully, we hadn’t gone through with it yet.”
Most of the refugees in Delhi who had their scheduled travel to the US cancelled had been granted resettlement under the Welcome Corps programme which is under USRAP. According to the New Delhi-based Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) the exact number of refugees in Delhi whose travel plans have been cancelled in this way is still not known.
But, Sayar Twan Pi is hopeful that the situation might improve. He said: “I think you can imagine how shocking this news must be for us, especially since we were so close to reaching the point we’ve been waiting for, for over a decade. We’re feeling really depressed and as though there’s no hope left. But Trump’s order doesn’t end asylum completely—it’s just a three-month suspension. So, we’re encouraging one another to stay strong and not give up. For me, after waiting 14 years, three more months isn’t such a big deal. We have to keep going with that mindset. We remain hopeful that everything will work out.”
There are approximately 10,000 refugees from Myanmar, including Chin people, currently living in New Delhi. Of those only about 3,000 possess United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) refugee cards that identify them internationally as refugees.
Refugees not recognised by UNHCR often face difficulty meeting their daily needs as they do not receive aid. Many are forced to find illegal work for instance as day labourers or housemaids or in factories or call centres.
Most of the Refugees from Myanmar currently in New Delhi have arrived there since the February 2021 coup in Myanmar and are classified as asylum seekers rather than refugees, according to Ma Su Htwe Aung, The CRC chairwoman.
She pointed out that ongoing global changes have had a profound impact on Myanmar and the international landscape. She urged Myanmar refugees to be strong and self-reliant during this difficult period and stressed that they must remain united. Despite the suspension of asylum in the US she encouraged the refugees to remain resilient and not despair .
She said: “My advice to refugees is to rely on yourself and focus on building your own capacity. Many changes can happen in Myanmar’s politics and in global affairs. When you are in another country, it's important to respect the rules of the host nation. Also, since Trump is reviewing the asylum suspension, I want to encourage refugees not to give up hope. Stay strong, don’t be discouraged, and keep moving forward with what you need to do.”
The CRC was set up by 1996 by Chin people fleeing persecution in Myanmar who had sought sanctuary in New Delhi. Since then, the CRC has worked to address problems faced by Chin refugees and asylum seekers in New Delhi.
CRC runs a preschool for children aged 2.5 to 5 years in New Delhi. It also provides English and Hindi language classes for middle-aged and senior citizens in the Hatsal, Budhela, and C1 areas of New Delhi, where many Chin and Myanmar refugees live.
