Bhutan Added to U.S. Travel Ban List: A Shift in Global Perception?

Bhutan’s Inclusion in the U.S. Travel Ban: A Wake-Up Call for the Himalayan Kingdom

By Ram Karki

Bhutan, long romanticized as the land of Gross National Happiness, now finds itself in an uncomfortable global spotlight. Its recent inclusion in the U.S. travel ban list, alongside other 10  countries like Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, and Syria, has left many puzzled. How did a nation once celebrated for its tranquility and progressive image end up grouped with some of the world’s most notorious human rights violators?

For those familiar with Bhutan’s darker realities, this development was inevitable. The United States, like much of the international community, has run out of patience with Bhutan’s decades-long denial of human rights violations, ethnic discrimination, and diplomatic stubbornness.

Ethnic Cleansing and the Lingering Refugee Crisis

The root of Bhutan’s current predicament lies in an issue it has tried to suppress for over three decades—its state-sponsored ethnic cleansing of the 1990s. During this period, over one-sixth of Bhutan’s population—mostly ethnic Nepali-speaking citizens—were expelled under a draconian “One Nation, One People” policy. Many were forced to flee to Nepal, where they lived in refugee camps under dire conditions.

Despite 15 rounds of bilateral talks with Nepal, Bhutan has refused to repatriate these refugees. Instead, it outsourced the problem by pushing for their resettlement in third countries, including the United States. Today, over 90,000 Bhutanese refugees have been resettled in the U.S., with most of them now holding American passports.

Yet, Bhutan continues to deny them tourist visas, effectively barring them from visiting their families and ancestral homes. This refusal to acknowledge the rights of its former citizens has only deepened frustration in Washington.

The Treatment of Political Prisoners

Bhutan’s human rights record is equally alarming when it comes to political dissent. Reports from international organizations confirm that Bhutan has political prisoners who have been detained for decades without fair trials. Many of these prisoners face inhumane treatment, including torture and life sentences, merely for expressing their views.

Yet, Bhutan’s government flatly denies their existence, much like it denies the refugee crisis. For the international community, particularly the U.S., this blatant disregard for human rights has become impossible to ignore.

Bhutan’s Strategy Backfires

Bhutan has not only ignored international criticism—it has actively warned other countries not to raise concerns about the refugee issue and related human rights violations. Recently, Bhutan has even threatened diplomatic repercussions against those who bring these matters to light.

However, this strategy of silence and suppression has backfired. Instead of deterring scrutiny, Bhutan’s defiance has escalated tensions and pushed the U.S. to take decisive action.

Diplomatic Factors: A Self-Inflicted Crisis

Bhutan’s diplomatic isolation has further contributed to its downfall. Unlike most sovereign nations, Bhutan has refused to establish diplomatic relations with the United States, leaving no direct channels for meaningful engagement.

Compounding the problem, Bhutan imposes an exorbitant Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) on foreign tourists, including Americans, which Washington views as yet another example of Bhutan’s unwillingness to engage constructively with the world. The Trump administration, which prioritizes fair treatment and reciprocity in foreign relations, sees this as an unjust financial barrier.

Is the Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scandal or Immigration Fraud to Blame?

Some have speculated that Bhutan’s inclusion in the U.S. red list is linked to the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal in Nepal, where local Nepalese fraudulently claimed Bhutanese identities to secure resettlement in the U.S.

However, this argument does not hold up to scrutiny. None of the fake refugees held Bhutanese passports or citizenship. Furthermore, countries like Nepal, India, and Bangladesh—whose citizens are reported to have been involved in actual immigration fraud and visa overstays in far higher numbers—have not been placed on the U.S. red list. Bhutan’s inclusion, therefore, is not about immigration fraud but about its persistent human rights violations.

The Global Consequences for Bhutan

Even if Bhutan is later removed from the red list or upgraded to a lower category, such as the Yellow or Orange List, the damage to its global reputation has already been done. Bhutan, once seen as a model of peace and sustainability, now shares a list with some of the world’s most notorious regimes.

This is not just a temporary embarrassment—it is a serious warning that Bhutan cannot continue to deflect and deny accountability.

What Bhutan Must Do to Restore Its Reputation

If Bhutan hopes to reverse this crisis, it must take immediate and meaningful action:

• Establish diplomatic relations with the U.S. and open doors for dialogue
• Remove the unfair SDF charge for U.S. citizens wanting to visit Bhutan
• Allow former Bhutanese refugees with U.S. passports to visit their homeland
• Repatriate willing refugees who were forcibly displaced decades ago
• Ensure fair trials and humane treatment of political prisoners
• Grant full citizenship rights to all the ethnic Nepali-speaking Bhutanese and respect their cultural and religious freedoms
• Improve prison conditions, allow international monitors and end inhumane treatment
• Reintroduce Nepali as a language of instruction in schools in southern Bhutan

Conclusion: A Moment of Reckoning for Bhutan

The U.S. travel ban is not just about immigration—it is a clear message that Bhutan’s denial of human rights violations will no longer be tolerated. If Bhutan continues to ignore the issue, it will face growing scrutiny, diplomatic isolation, and economic consequences.

At this moment, Bhutan stands at a crossroads. It can continue down the path of denial, or it can take this as an opportunity to reform, engage, and reclaim its position as a respected member of the international community.

The choice is Bhutan’s to make. But one thing is clear—the world is watching.