Twice Stateless: The Double Erasure of Bhutanese Refugees

Individuals who survived ethnic cleansing in Bhutan, endured decades in refugee camps in Nepal, and navigated the arduous resettlement process in the United States are now facing a devastating reality of double statelessness. Purna and Aasis are among those who, after escaping ethnic cleansing in Bhutan and living as refugees in Nepal, found a new beginning in the United States. However, their journey has led them back to uncertainty. Bhutan has refused to accept them, and upon their return from the U.S., some have been unceremoniously pushed across the border into India. Without official documentation or legal status in India, they find themselves effectively stateless once more. A year later, many are still living in limbo, lacking any legal standing. Some have returned to the same refugee camps in Nepal they left two decades ago, forced to relive their past circumstances. Others are in hiding within India, constantly fearing arrest due to their undocumented status, a consequence of Bhutan's actions at the border. This situation represents an unprecedented tragedy, where an already traumatized population is rendered stateless twice in a single lifetime. Their testimonies underscore the urgent need for international attention and support.