GCRPPB Urges Immediate Diplomatic Action as USA-Deported Resettled Bhutanese Face Statelessness

Photo Source: Bhutanese News

The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) has expressed grave concern over the recent forced deportation of ten Bhutanese refugees from the United States, which has resulted in renewed statelessness and an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

These individuals, who were part of the mass exodus of Bhutanese citizens in the 1990s due to Bhutan’s ethnic cleansing policies, had been legally resettled in the U.S. under the UNHCR resettlement program. However, on March 27, 2025, they were forcibly deported back to Bhutan, arriving at Paro Airport.

Upon their arrival, Bhutanese authorities refused to allow them to stay and expelled them once again, this time sending them to India. Stranded in India without legal status or support, the refugees were subsequently transferred to the Nepal-India border at Panitanki. Three of them—Roshan Tamang, Asish Subedi, and Santosh Darji—were detained by Nepalese authorities for entering Nepal without legal documents. Their current situation remains precarious, as they face the threat of further deportation back to India.

The whereabouts of the remaining seven deportees are still unknown, which has raised significant concerns over their safety and welfare. This latest episode is seen as a clear violation of international refugee protections, specifically the principle of non-refoulement, which forbids the forced return of individuals to a country where they may face persecution.

The GCRPPB strongly condemns the actions of the Bhutanese and Indian governments, whose coordinated efforts have left these refugees in an unprecedented legal limbo. The organization also warns that this situation exposes the individuals involved to significant risks of detention, abuse, and further displacement.

GCRPPB is calling for immediate action from international actors to address the crisis:

• Nepal must refrain from deporting these individuals back to India and instead work with the U.S. and Indian embassies to ensure that Bhutan takes responsibility and allows them to resettle.
• Bhutan should immediately accept these individuals, grant them legal status, and cease discriminatory actions that target former refugees.
• India and Nepal are urged to provide legal clarity and humanitarian protection, while also facilitating access to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• The United States must halt the deportation of these refugees and allow them to face legal proceedings in the U.S. if they are accused of any crimes.
• The UNHCR and other human rights organizations should intervene to provide urgent assistance and ensure these refugees’ rights are protected.

GCRPPB has already reached out to key international bodies, including the European Union, UN Human Rights Council, and Human Rights Watch, to seek their immediate attention on the issue. The organization is also calling on civil society leaders in Nepal to pressure the government to take action, prevent Bhutan from continuing this cycle of displacement, and work toward a resolution with the international community.

The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan remains committed to advocating for justice, dignity, and legal protections for all displaced Bhutanese refugees. Above all, GCRPPB continues its unwavering advocacy for the safe and timely release of all Bhutanese political prisoners, striving for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.