Ray, a Bhutanese refugee deported from the United States, finds himself in a precarious position after being sent to a country he has never known.
In his late 20s, Ray was born in a refugee camp in Nepal and immigrated to the U.S. as a child.
After spending most of his life in America, he was recently deported back to Bhutan, where he and his family have faced severe persecution.
Within a mere 24 hours of his arrival, Bhutanese authorities demanded that he leave the country.
Ray is currently hiding in India without legal status, family, or a passport.
His only support comes from a pastor who has taken him in during this desperate time.
“I have nothing here. It’s desperation right now for me,” Ray said, emphasizing the precariousness of his situation.
Due to the Trump administration’s final years, the deportation of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees like Ray has resumed, a fact many thought was unlikely given Bhutan’s historical reluctance to accept such individuals.
For decades, Bhutan has marginalized ethnic Nepalis, leading to violence and mass displacement.
Advocates claim that U.S. immigration procedures designed to protect individuals from facing danger upon return have been largely disregarded in recent years.
Ignoring evident danger, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has executed deportations, with assurances from ICE that Bhutan would welcome returnees, a promise that contradicts the reality faced by individuals like Ray.
Aisa Villarosa, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, noted that families have been misled by ICE regarding the safety of their return.
While some deportees face legal obstacles, the silence on Bhutan deportations suggests a disturbing trend.
Most Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees are descendants of laborers who immigrated to southern Bhutan during the 19th century.
The interaction between them and the rest of the Bhutanese population remained minimal for decades until government policies in the 1980s aimed at modernization began targeting ethnic Nepalis.
Violent protests broke out, further escalating tensions and leading to the brutal treatment of many Nepali speakers.
According to Michael Hutt, a scholar on Nepali and Himalayan studies, forcibly displaced individuals were told they must leave the country, or else face imprisonment.
By the early 1990s, approximately 100,000 people were expelled or fled Bhutan, a staggering number given the country’s small population.
As a result, seven refugee camps were established in eastern Nepal, where residents lived in limbo, without rights to work or citizenship.
A resettlement program commenced in 2008, through which over 85,000 refugees were accepted into the U.S.
Ray’s own journey to the U.S. began when he was just 12 years old; an experience that exposed him to the diverse coexistence of various communities.
However, he encountered legal troubles that led to his eventual deportation.
In his senior year of high school, Ray was involved in a burglary incident, which he now describes as a “stupid mistake” and regrets dearly.
He served probation yet later found himself facing deportation due to his past.
After a few months in ICE custody, he was released, operating under the assumption that Bhutan wouldn’t accept refugees.
However, in March of this year, ICE agents forcibly took him from his home, not allowing him to say goodbye to his wife and two young children.
Ray recounted the shocking brevity of the operation, saying, “It was just like, probably a maximum of two minutes.”
Upon arriving in Bhutan, authorities swiftly confiscated his phone and personal documents before interrogating him about his family’s history.
He recalled being told that he could not remain because his language did not correspond with that of the Bhutanese.
After a brief night in a hotel, he and other deportees were ordered to leave the following day.
Despite pleading to stay and fight his case, he was denied.
According to the Asian Law Caucus and Asian Refugees United, many deportees have similarly been expelled shortly after arrival, with some families unable to communicate with their loved ones since.
Among those deported, at least four have returned to the refugee camps in Nepal, where conditions continue to deteriorate.
Gopal Siwakoti, a human rights activist in Nepal, reported that only two of the original seven refugee camps remain active, with many humanitarian organizations having withdrawn their support.
Last month, the Nepali government imposed fines on deportees who returned to the camps, further complicating their situation.
The recent wave of deportations has negatively impacted the mental health of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community, already marked by struggles from their historical experiences.
Robin Gurung, a co-founder of Asian Refugees United, noted that the fear stemming from deportations has intensified feelings of trauma among community members.
With ongoing uncertainties, questions concerning belonging and identity resurface.
“When do we have to not fear another expulsion? When can we be free? Truly free?” asked Bhadra Mishra, another community member highlighting the continued anxiety among the displaced.
Recently, there have been small victories in the legal system, such as the case of Mohan Karki, who received a temporary stay on deportation due to concerns regarding Bhutan.
His wife, Tika Basnet, remains hopeful that he will be allowed to stay in the only home they’ve ever known.
“Nepal is not our country. India is not our country. They never recognized us,” she asserted, underlining the dire reality faced by those in such precarious situations.
In Ray’s absence, his wife has assumed the role of the family’s sole provider, working extra shifts to support their children and Ray’s aging parents.
Unaware of the gravity of their father’s situation, Ray’s children think he is merely away on a business trip.
“The only thing that keeps me fighting to come back are my wife and kids,” Ray expressed, emphasizing his longing to be a present father to his children.
As the community navigates the complexities of deportations and the struggle for stability, the future remains uncertain for many, including Ray, as he clings to the hope of reuniting with his family.
image source from：npr
