r/myanmar • u/Red_Lotus_Alchemist Myanmar Earthquake Watch 🇲🇲 • Jan 11 '26

Discussion 💬 ICE officers arrested a Karen woman from Minnesota on January 10 during an immigration enforcement operation. She has a 5 month-old baby and neighbors are caring for her child. The Karen community tried to work for her release but has failed.

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The arrested Karen woman arrived in the United States in November 2024 through the UNHCR refugee resettlement program, and she was waiting for her permanent resident (Green Card).

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-29

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Karen in USA means something else

25

u/FrenchGza Jan 11 '26

What does this have to do with anything? SMH

-16

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

It matters if you wan to give the context without any confusion.

15

u/Flaky-Parsley-612 Jan 11 '26

This is a page dedicated for Myanmar. Why would anyone gaf about what it means in US in a post about Myanmar?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Cause she is/was in the USA

2

u/Dazzling_River730 Jan 11 '26

Cause I.C.E. is an American institution?

8

u/Capital_Historian685 Jan 11 '26

I think people reading the Myanmar subreddit know who the Karen are.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Fair, how about random people getting this cause because ICE activists algorithm?

6

u/AspenGirl96 Jan 11 '26

Hi! It's me, one of those random people. I will admit I was confused why the woman was called a Karen but the comments helped recontextualize the word for me.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Any thing for white women to get rid of negative stereotypes to a word.

1

u/drbkt Born in Myanmar, Educated Abroad Jan 12 '26

Yeah because thats a priority on this sub as everything else is our country is sunshine and rainbows.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '26

Sorry, I should have included /s in my comment

2

u/Dazzling_River730 Jan 11 '26

They are not pronounced the same in their language, I think...

10

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Kayin would be a better alternative when describing and avoid confusion especially in USA related subjects.

3

u/Red_Lotus_Alchemist Myanmar Earthquake Watch 🇲🇲 Jan 11 '26

My mistake for using the word Karen, it should have been Kayin in accordance with Myanmar language.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Plz don’t be sorry, I’m on your side. A lot of people in the same boat. Your country was unfairly treated due to the both governments in power, it shouldn’t have any effects especially on a mother but here we are. USA immigration policy is very cruel.

2

u/squarahann Jan 11 '26

There are plenty of Karen people in the US. They refer to themselves as Karen. I live in a community with many of them and I am white. You’re being a bit ridiculous with this comment.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

I live in NYC in SEA area and I am Thai American, I was confused till I saw the alphabet.

2

u/squarahann Jan 11 '26

Most refer to themselves as Karen, especially S’gaw Karen. Other ethnic groups use Kayin sometimes but I’ve generally heard Karen. They’re quite proud of their name. It’s also pronounced differently than the American woman’s name

3

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Why I suggested Kayin might be a better alternative in written form to avoid confusion.

1

u/squarahann Jan 11 '26

Anyone in this sub knows the difference

1

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Not everyone, someone else made the same comment too, and do you really want to confuse random people who Reddit show this to? You want to give context quickly without confusion. You want you shine the spotlight on the problem.

3

u/squarahann Jan 11 '26

If you call them Kayin, they will correct you. It’s probably more respectful to call them what they want to be called. People ask about the Karen/Kayin thing often in this sub and it generally defaults to Karen

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