Mohan Karki, a 30-year-old man recently deported to Bhutan after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), struggles to connect with his newborn daughter Briana, who he has yet to hold since her birth. As he communicates with his wife, Tika Basnet, Karki expresses a profound sense of loss and alienation, stating, 'I feel like a ghost,' highlighting the emotional toll of his forced separation. Karki's deportation followed a series of legal battles led by his wife and attorneys, emphasizing the challenges faced by individuals like Karki, who end up stateless due to complex immigration laws.

Despite his parents being Bhutanese, Karki's identity is marked by his experiences in a refugee camp in Nepal, where he was born, and his deportation has forced him back to a country he has never called home. The disconnect from his family's heritage and the societal structures that define nationality and belonging has left Karki in a state of existential crisis. The implications of his story reflect broader issues of immigration policies in the United States, particularly regarding the treatment of individuals who are neither citizens nor given refuge.

The emotional and psychological aspects of Karki’s plight underscore the stark realities faced by many in similar situations – families torn apart by deportation processes, and the haunting uncertainty regarding their future. Furthermore, this case may spur discussions on reforms in immigration policies, urging a more compassionate approach to individuals caught in such bureaucratic entanglements, particularly regarding those with familial ties in the U.S. and their rights to keep their families together, irrespective of their documented status.