2014 INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES The usage of the term “Burma” is consistent with reports released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as they track refugees to the United States. We recognize the sensitivity that exists regarding the use of the term. We use Burmese Americans and Burmese refugees to encompass all refugees with origins in Burma/Myanmar with the understanding that there are numerous ethnic groups who prefer to be identified by their respective ethnic identity. We are also sensitive to the use of the country’s current official name of The Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Many in the international community use Myanmar because they believe that nations should be referred to by the name that they prefer. We are aware of the recent changes in U.S. relations with the country and that in its May 15, 2013 statement regarding Myanmar President Thein Sein’s visit to the United States, the Obama Administration referred to the country as Myanmar, as INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: a courtesy gesture of respect for a government that is pursuing a REFUGEES FROM BURMA/ transformative reform agenda. MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES (AAAS) Funding for this project is Chia Youyee Vang, Ph.D. provided by the Asian & Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Pacific Islander American Monica Mong Trieu, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund (APIASF), Co-Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Purdue University in collaboration with the ADVISORY COMMITTEE Association for Asian Mary Yu Danico, Ph.D. American Studies. Professor, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona President, Association for Asian American Studies © Asian & Pacific Islander Neil Horikoshi American Scholarship Fund. President & Executive Director, Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund All rights reserved. Katie Tran-Lam Director of Communication & Marketing, Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund Linda Trinh Vo, Ph.D. Associate Professor, University of California, Irvine President-Elect, Association for Asian American Studies Janelle Wong, Ph.D. Associate Professor, University of Maryland, College Park REVIEW COMMITTEE Joseph Cheah, Ph.D. Associate Professor, University of Saint Joseph Myra Dahgaypaw Board Member, Karen American Communities Foundation, Washington D.C. Kathryn K. Eggleston, Ph.D. President, Richland College, Dallas, Texas Bandana Purkayastha, Ph.D. Professor, University of Connecticut Pabitra Rizal Refugee Program Manager, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Atlanta, Georgia contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................. 4 APIASF AND AAAS STATEMENTS ...................................................... 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................. 6 INTRODUCTION. 8 PLAN FOR THE STUDY. 9 HISTORICAL CONTEXT ............................................................ 10 FINDINGS ...................................................................... 15 POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................... 35 CONCLUSION ................................................................... 36 REFERENCES ................................................................... 37 INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS e would like to thank the Asian & Pacific Although this study focuses on a number of key areas, we Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) would like to note that this is an exploratory project and not for funding this project and the advisory a comprehensive examination of the two communities. The W committee for giving us the opportunity interview responses are not intended to be generalizable. to explore the migration and settlement experiences of Instead, we seek to provide a preliminary snapshot of the two refugees from Bhutan and Burma. Neil Horikoshi’s referral largest recent U.S. refugee groups. We hope that this report to community leaders was instrumental in ensuring that we will serve as a catalyst for future research on these rapidly reached individuals in these two communities who could growing communities. provide diverse perspectives. Sally Kuzma and Mayhoua Chia Youyee Vang, Ph.D. Moua helped us to connect with refugees with whom Associate Professor of History and Comparative Ethnic Studies they worked in the Milwaukee area. Finally, we thank the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee following individuals for sharing their viewpoints about how refugees from Burma and Bhutan are faring: Prakesh and Biswa, Myra Dahgaypaw, Nang Kham, Kawaw Keh Mu, Monica Mong Trieu, Ph.D. Pabitra Rizal, Sie Sie, Bishnu Subba, Annic Thay, Patrick Assistant Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies Program Thein, and John Tinpe. Purdue University As APIASF works to better serve the Asian of the Burmese American Community Institute, and Lana American and Pacific Islander community, the organization Alaine Knox, Assistant Director of Extended Studies at maintains continual assessment on each scholarship American University’s School of Professional & Extended application cycle. Through this assessment, APIASF was Studies, provided practitioners and education leaders with alerted to the growing number of applicants and scholarship information to help improve student success. recipients from the Burmese and Bhutanese communities. The completion of this report is the next step to better Further investigation into the community, demonstrated inform policymakers, higher education leaders, and other the need for access to educational resources and additional resource providers with information about these two research to learn about the experiences of students. APIASF growing communities that are often overlooked especially at hosted a session at the 2013 Higher Education Summit titled, the national level. With better information about the needs Enhancing the Adolescent Burmese Refugees’ Access to Higher Education, and experiences of these underserved communities, we hope to help increase awareness on this underserved community. to be able to increase access to resources that will support the This session presented by Elaisa Vahnie, Executive Director academic and long-term success of these students. Neil Horikoshi, President & Executive Director Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund 4 ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND APIASF AND AAAS STATEMENTS THE ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND (APIASF) The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the nation’s largest non-profit provider of college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). APIASF places an intentionally strong focus on students who live at or below the poverty level, are the organizations, and the nation’s Asian American and Native first in their families to attend college, are traditionally American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) underrepresented in higher education, and are committed to support opportunities for students to access, complete, to community service. Since its inception, APIASF has and succeed after post-secondary education. Through its distributed more than $70 million in college scholarships to programs, APIASF is able to develop future leaders who excel AAPI students across the country and in the Pacific Islands. in their careers, serve as role models in their communities, APIASF’s holistic approach includes partnerships with and contribute to a vibrant America. a number of nonprofit, corporate, research, advocacy ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES The Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS) was communication and scholarly founded in 1979 for the purpose of advancing the highest exchange among teachers, researchers, professional standards of excellence in teaching and and students in the field of Asian research in the field of Asian American Studies; promoting American Studies. The organization better understanding and closer ties between and among advocates and represents the interests various sub-components within Asian American Studies: and welfare of Asian American Studies Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Hawaiian, Southeast and Asian Americans. AAAS is also founded for the purpose Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, and other groups. of educating American society about the history and AAAS sponsors professional activities to facilitate increased aspirations of Asian American ethnic minorities. INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report paints a historical and demographic portrait of • Refugees from Bhutan2 began arriving in the United States the Burmese and Bhutanese experience in the United States in 2008 to flee the Bhutanese government’s discriminatory and gives voice to one Southeast Asian refugee community social and political rule. and one South Asian refugee community who are largely • In 2010, Bhutanese refugees represented 17 percent of invisible in the current national discourse on Asian the total refugees resettling in the United States. In 2011, American socioeconomic outcomes. National data show they increased to 26 percent of the total number of that Bhutanese and Burmese constitute a large proportion refugee arrivals. of refugees to the United States in recent years.