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They survived ethnic cleansing in Bhutan, decades living in remote camps in Nepal, and the grueling process of starting over in the United States – only to be deported.
Meet Purna and Aasis. Along with dozens of others, they survived ethnic cleansing in Bhutan, decades living in remote camps in Nepal, and the grueling process of starting over in the United States – only to be deported.
And it gets worse. Bhutan never wanted them – that was why they became refugees in the first place. Once they were forced back to Bhutan, they were unceremoniously shoved over the border into India, with no documentation or legal status.
A year later, they are still living in limbo. Some have made it back to Nepal, to live in the same refugee camps they left 20 years ago. Others are in hiding, facing constant fear of arrest because they were forced into undocumented status in India the moment Bhutan pushed them over the border.
