Kathmandu, 2 Jul: The Department of Immigration has initiated the deportation process for four Bhutanese refugees who entered Nepal after being deported from the United States. On Asar 6 (mid-June), the department decided to expel Ashish Subedi, Ashok Gurung, Santosh Darji, and Roshan Tamang, and sent a letter to the Immigration Office in Kakarbhitta to proceed with the process.
Following the directive, the office handed over deportation notices to the four individuals. The United States had deported a total of 18 Bhutanese refugees this past Chaitra (March/April). Among them, four entered Nepal via India from Bhutan. To avoid legal complications, Ashish’s father, Narayan Kumar, who was residing in the Beldangi refugee camp, voluntarily informed the authorities about their arrival.
Subsequently, on the same day, the Immigration Office took them into custody and placed them in the detention center of the Area Police Office in Kakarbhitta.
After the Department of Immigration placed the four individuals in a detention center with the decision to deport them, Narayan Kumar filed a petition with the court. On Baisakh 11 (late April), the Supreme Court issued an order not to keep them in detention and instructed that the investigation be completed within 60 days.
Now, with the investigation concluded within that timeframe, the department has imposed a fine of 5,000 rupees and is preparing to proceed with the deportation process.
These individuals had originally come to Nepal as Bhutanese refugees during the 1990s and were resettled about ten years ago. According to the department, after being deported from the United States and refusing to return to their home country Bhutan, they entered Nepal citing family ties and language as reasons — a move the department deems illegal.
The department maintains that they are Bhutanese nationals and that their entry into Nepal via land through India was unauthorized.
“You are a Bhutanese citizen and entered Nepal via land from India without obtaining a visa at the point of entry, as required for foreign nationals,” states the letter handed to them by the Immigration Office. “According to Section 3(1) of the Immigration Act 2049 (1992), no foreign national is allowed to enter or reside in Nepal without a passport and visa. Since you acted in violation of this provision, a fine of 5,000 rupees per person will be imposed under Section 10(4).”
The four entered Nepal on March 19, 2025. As per regulations, they should have been issued an entry visa upon payment of visa fees, late fees, and other charges. However, since the Bhutanese refugees did not possess passports or the necessary documents for visa issuance, the letter instructs them to submit a valid passport or appropriate travel document from their country.
The office further informed them through the letter that once the required documents are received, the deportation process will proceed. Until then, they are restricted to a designated area.
In accordance with a decision made on Baisakh 12 (April 24), the letter also states that the individuals are prohibited from leaving Damak and must inform the local police unit, enforcing the area restriction.
Following the advancement of the deportation process, Ashish’s father, Narayan Kumar, has said they are preparing to file a petition in court. Speaking to RatoPati, he stated, “We’re bearing the costs of food and care for Ashish and the others who were deported from America. We don’t even have money to go to court. But I’m planning to file a case against the immigration department once we manage to gather the needed funds.”
