REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio – In towns and cities across America, people from the Bhutanese refugee community are building new lives. We are raising families, opening businesses, and becoming part of our neighborhoods.

More than 90,000 of us came here after spending decades in refugee camps. We were welcomed by the United States. But many people don’t know a key part of our story: this welcome was led by a Republican president, following a long American tradition of helping those in need!

A History of Helping Refugees

Again and again, America has helped people fleeing danger. This most often happens under Republican presidents:

Hungarian Revolution (1956)

Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower welcomed over 38,000 Hungarian refugees who were escaping Soviet control.

Cuban Refugees (1960s)

Republican Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon guided the efforts to resettle Cubans fleeing their country.

Southeast Asian Refugees (1975–1979)

Republican President Gerald Ford led the effort to bring over 130,000 refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to America after the Vietnam War.

The Refugee Act of 1980

This law, signed by President Jimmy Carter but supported by Republicans, created the system still used to resettle refugees.

Our Story… A Republican-Led Rescue

In 2006 Republican President George W. Bush offered to resettle up to 60,000 Bhutanese refugees who were stuck in camps in Nepal. That number eventually grew to over 90,000. We weren’t fleeing a war that was on the news every night, but we were forced from our homes because of our ethnicity and our beliefs. Even without major headlines the Bush administration stepped up, working with the United Nations and other groups to make it happen. Although the program continued under President Obama, it was Republican leadership that opened the door for us.

American Values in Action

Republican presidents have shown that you can be strong on national security while also being compassionate. Welcoming refugees—from those escaping Communism to our own community—has always been a core American value.
Today, the success of Bhutanese-Americans is living proof that this welcome works. Our communities are growing strong. Our children are going to college, parents are sharing their culture, and families are voting, volunteering, and giving back!

Conclusion

The Bhutanese refugee story is significant in America and while bi-partisan support has helped, history shows that Republicans have often led the major efforts to welcome refugees. Knowing this history is important as it helps all of us, new and old citizens alike, understand the values that gave us a second chance—and why those values are worth protecting.

It is with these deeply held values of compassion, opportunity, and service that I now seek to give back to the community that has become my home. I am running as a candidate for Council At-Large for the City of Reynoldsburg, driven by the conviction that the same principles that offer a second chance to a refugee family are the ones that build a stronger, more prosperous city for all residents. I am confident that I can uphold these values on the City Council. I am honored to share this commitment with my Republican running mates:

Mr. Barth Cotner, owner of Cotner Funeral Home, for Council-At-Large
Mr. Stephen Cicak, for City Auditor

For School Board

Devasish Poudyel

Together, our team is dedicated to serving Reynoldsburg with the integrity and forward-looking spirit that have always defined the best of our American character.