The United States has recently seen a steady growth in refugees from Bhutan. In fact, these forgotten people are really double refugees. They left their homeland for Nepal, but lived there for almost 20 years without full resident status. The US knew of their situation since they were involved in the talks between the two countries, and eventually Nepal accepted their offer of resettlement to 60,000 of these ex-Bhutanese.
The refugee situation in Bhutan comes out of tension between the rulers and the southern Bhutanese. Starting in 1990, the government expelled over 80,000 of their residents – namely ethnic Nepalese. The actual number is likely more than 100,000. Bhutan’s position is that they were not legal residents and a public safety danger. The refugees say they were discriminated against because they were would oppose the King as the country moves to a constitutional monarchy.
These exiled Bhutanese mostly ended up at one of seven main refugee camps in Nepal. Complicating the issue, anti-Nepal Maoists also ended up in the same camps. The Maoists generally discourage resettlement as a long term solution to the political problems in the region. The ethnic Nepali refugees however, are usually happy for the chance to become legal residents of the United States. The two opposing positions have led to conflict within the camps, but the refugees seem to neither support nor oppose the Maoist side uniformly.
The camps were set up and run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees but internally the refugees managed their own communities. But life is hard without legal status in Nepal. The refugees cannot go to school or work legally. They have to bribe guards for privileges. If the situation in Bhutan were better, they would probably prefer to return. But given the dismal environment inside the camps, resettlement looks like the next best option. Very few have been able to return to Bhutan.
The relocation process has been handled by a group called the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Although most refugees who are resettled will end up in the United States, some will go to Canada. Other countries will also accept a number.
Over 20,000 have already resettled in the US. They are grateful for the opportunity to go to school, work, and become citizens of a new country. In return, they hope to contribute positively to American society. They are in a good position to become one of the most productive refugee communities in the country. Even though they did not have legal status in Nepal, they were well educated within the UNHCR system. They come to the country with a good knowledge of English and the academic background to take on formal schooling needed for most professions. Not all refugees to the US have had these advantages.
Many refugees do not have a clear path to citizenship or even an country to emigrant to. Many refugees live there lives not knowing if they will ever be able to leave the refugee camp and fearful that they will be forced to.
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