U.S. grants Myanmar nationals temporary protected status

• "The coup has worsened humanitarian conditions in several areas by limiting access to life-saving assistance, disrupting flights carrying humanitarian and medical aid, and spurring an economic crisis," per a DHS statement.
• "Such conditions prevent Burmese nationals and habitual residents from returning safely."

How it works: The decision covers roughly 1,600 Burmese people who are already in the U.S. — and those without nationality who last habitually resided in Burma — and renders them eligible for TPS for the next 18 months.

• Individuals who can demonstrate "continuous residence" in the U.S. as of March 11 are eligible under the designation.
• Of note: The Department of Homeland Security emphasized that "individuals should not believe smugglers or others claiming the border is now open."

The big picture: The Biden administration is ratcheting up pressure on military coup leaders in Myanmar. The U.S. has condemned the violence and enforced a number of sanctions.

• Since the military overthrew the democratically elected government on Feb. 1, people have demonstrated across Myanmar nearly every day.
• A United Nations human rights investigator said that security forces killed at least 70 people as of Thursday.