WASHINGTON, DC — A nation better known for its Gross National Happiness than global threats has landed on the United States’ “red list” of countries facing an absolute travel ban — and no one quite knows why.

Bhutan’s inclusion alongside conflict-ridden nations like Iran, Syria, and North Korea has baffled observers, sparking a flurry of confusion among diplomats, analysts, and the Bhutanese diaspora. The U.S. State Department has yet to offer a clear explanation.

The red list, part of a draft classification developed by U.S. security agencies under former President Donald Trump’s directive, names 11 countries as posing unacceptable vetting or security risks. The list, leaked by The New York Times, is part of an ongoing effort to limit immigration from countries deemed a threat to American national security.

“This is to protect Americans from individuals intending to commit terrorist attacks, undermine our security, or exploit our immigration system,” Trump had said when outlining the policy.

But Bhutan? The small Himalayan kingdom of fewer than a million people, has no known history of terrorism or anti-U.S. sentiment, AsiaNews pointed out. 

In the 1990s, Bhutan expelled around 80,000 Nepali-speaking Hindus under its “One Nation, One People” policy. Many resettled in the U.S., but Bhutan has consistently refused their return. This unresolved migration issue may have played a role.

In 2023, a scandal erupted when hundreds of Nepalis allegedly used forged documents to enter the U.S. as fake Bhutanese refugees. High-level Nepali officials were implicated, and though Bhutan had no direct role, the mix-up may have tainted its image in U.S. security databases.

A small number of Bhutanese — just 51 between 2021 and 2024, according to ICE — have been caught crossing into the U.S. illegally. Overall, Bhutanese immigration violations remain statistically negligible, but they may have been flagged during security assessments.

Some sources claim Bhutan’s red-listing stems from an increase in overstays — nationals remaining in the U.S. after their visas expired. But Homeland Security data shows only 200 cases over a decade, making this a weak justification, media reports point out.

Another theory floated by South Asia watchers: a bureaucratic booboo. Bangladesh — which has seen a rise in Islamist political activity under a caretaker government — remains off the list. Some speculate that officials may have confused the two South Asian nations, AsiaNews said. 

with@India-West News Desk