A Portrait of Refugees from Burma/Myanmar and Bhutan in the United States

Abstract

Who are Burmese and Bhutanese Americans? What caused their migration? While national data shows Bhutanese and Burmese constituting a large proportion of refugees entering the United States in recent years, they, however, remain largely invisible in the current national discourse on Asian American socioeconomic outcomes. This article addresses this gap by providing a historical and demographic portrait of the Burmese and Bhutanese communities—specifically addressing their social, economic, political, and educational adaptation patterns. Data in this article draws from U.S. Census Bureau data, and interviews with Burmese and Bhutanese refugees who are working in different capacities in their respective communities.