After Costly Illegal Entry and Ordeal in US, Aman (21) Sent Back to Nepal at Family’s Request

Aman Khan, a 21-year-old Nepali man who was residing in Queens, New York, has returned to his home country after facing significant challenges during his stay in the United States. Khan, a resident of Parbat district, embarked on a perilous journey to the US approximately a year and a half ago, paying a substantial sum of money to human traffickers to enter the country illegally through Texas.

Khan’s ordeal was marked by health issues and a harrowing robbery incident that left him stranded in New Jersey. As a result, his family sought assistance to bring him back to Nepal. With the support of the Nepali community, specifically NRNA USA and Parbat Sewa Samaj New York, Khan was able to return on a Qatar Airways flight on Thursday morning from JFK Airport in New York.

Prakash Sharma, General Secretary of Parbat Sewa Samaj New York, expressed gratitude to those who contributed to Khan’s safe return, including Arjun Lamichhane, Kishor Lamichhane, Suresh Parajuli, and Shyam Magrati. Khan is expected to arrive in Kathmandu on Friday.

Khan’s case is part of a growing trend of Nepalis attempting to enter the United States illegally. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 10,000 Nepalis have been apprehended by US Border Patrol at the Southwest Border over the past decade. The statistics, covering the period from 2014 to March 2024, highlight a significant trend in migration patterns. These individuals often pay exorbitant fees, sometimes up to $100,000, to human traffickers to facilitate their illegal entry.

The number of Nepalis encountered at the border has steadily increased over the years. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 5,300 Nepalis entered the U.S. without visas from the Mexican border in the 18 months spanning the 12 months of fiscal year 2023 and the first six months of 2024. This figure is notably higher than previous years.

From 2014 to 2022, a total of 5,180 Nepalis entered the U.S. without a visa from the Mexican border. However, the number of Nepalis entering without a visa surged significantly in the 18 months from October 2022. This data only includes those apprehended by the Border Patrol while entering the United States.

In the final months of fiscal year 2024, there was a decline in the number of Nepalis entering without a visa. January 2024 saw 200 entries, followed by 230 in February and 160 in March. These figures are lower than the previous months, with 420 in December 2023, 550 in November, and 610 in October, totaling 2,160 Nepalis in the first six months of the current fiscal year.

Fiscal year 2023 saw the highest number of Nepalis entering the U.S. through the Mexican border without a visa, with a total of 3,140 entries. Monthly figures include 170 in October 2022, 220 in November, 320 in December, 140 in January 2023, 100 in February, 130 in March, 260 in April, 460 in May, 480 in June, 310 in July, 240 in August, and 330 in September.

In fiscal year 2022, 1,490 Nepalis entered the U.S. without a visa, while in 2021, the number was 420. During the Biden administration, a total of 7,210 Nepalis have entered without visas, compared to 1,850 during the four years of the Trump administration. Annual figures for the Trump administration include 650 in 2017, 720 in 2018, 340 in 2019, and 140 in 2020.

Prior to this, 460 Nepalis entered in 2014, 410 in 2015, and 550 in 2016. Many of these migrants paid thousands of dollars to agents to enter the U.S. without a visa and were apprehended by the Border Patrol. Some were released into the U.S., while others were detained in detention centers, and some have even been deported.