If the current asylum denial rate persists, at least 6,000 Nepalis could face deportation orders from the United States in the coming years. According to the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) under the U.S. Department of Justice, nearly 10,000 Nepali asylum applications are currently pending in immigration courts.
Additionally, an estimated 5,000 applications are under review by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), bringing the total number of pending asylum cases to approximately 15,000.
Data from the U.S. Department of Justice’s EOIR shows that the approval rate for Nepali asylum cases in U.S. immigration courts is currently around 60%, placing Nepal among the countries with relatively high approval rates globally. However, this reflects a decline from the previous fiscal year. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the approval rate for Nepali asylum cases was 64%, but it dropped in FY 2024.
In FY 2024, of 826 Nepali asylum cases heard in immigration courts, 493 (about 60%) were approved, 128 were denied, 10 were abandoned by applicants, and 185 remain pending despite hearings. Another 10 cases were withdrawn by applicants. The number of administratively closed cases was minimal and not detailed in the report.
In FY 2023, immigration courts processed 936 Nepali asylum cases, approving 601 (64%), denying 123 (14%), and leaving 206 (22%) pending after hearings. Among cases stemming from “credible fear” claims, 335 Nepali applications were reviewed in FY 2023, with 72% (241) approved, 15% (71) denied, and 13% (61) left pending.
The approval rate for Nepali asylum cases arising from credible fear claims also declined in FY 2024. Of 353 such cases heard, 241 (68.3%) were approved, 52 were denied, and 60 remained pending after hearings.
Historical data shows fluctuations in approval rates. In 2022, 488 Nepalis were granted asylum through immigration courts. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced approvals in FY 2020 and 2021, with only 308 and 143 Nepalis granted asylum, respectively, due to court hearing delays.
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In contrast, 2019, during the first Trump administration, marked a record high, with 606 Nepalis granted asylum—the highest in history. According to the Department of Homeland Security, approvals in prior years were as follows: 470 in 2018, 290 in 2017, 260 in 2016, 250 in 2015, 292 in 2014, and 381 in 2013.
Of the nearly 10,000 Nepali asylum cases currently pending in U.S. immigration courts, approximately 3,800 are in New York, 2,500 in Texas, and 2,200 in California.
As of December, out of 15,627 resolved Nepali asylum cases, 7,662 were approved, while 3,477 resulted in deportation orders. Additionally, 1,687 cases were terminated, 633 were closed through other means, 610 applicants were offered voluntary departure, and 454 were found to lack credible fear.
If the current rejection rate continues, thousands of Nepalis could face deportation from the U.S. in the coming years.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
