As President Donald Trump’s second term intensifies its focus on immigration enforcement, approximately 50,000 Nepalis across the United States are grappling with heightened fears of deportation and legal limbo.
With stringent policies targeting undocumented immigrants and temporary protections under review, several key Nepali groups—students, asylum seekers, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders—have emerged as the most vulnerable demographics in 2025.
Nepali Students: A Growing Population at Risk
According to the latest Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) data from February 2025, 16,933 Nepali students are currently enrolled in U.S. educational institutions. These students, primarily on F-1 visas, face growing anxiety as the Trump administration signals potential restrictions on visa overstays and international student programs.
Many fear that changes to immigration policies could disrupt their studies or bar re-entry after visiting Nepal, echoing concerns raised during Trump’s first term when travel bans were introduced. Some students transitioning to Optional Practical Training (OPT) or facing visa expiration risk falling out of legal status, further increasing their vulnerability.
Additionally, some students working illegally fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at their workplaces, while others, unable to secure employment, face financial hardship, exacerbating their precarious situation.
Asylum Seekers: A Precarious Legal Battle
As of January 2025, 9,592 Nepalis have pending asylum cases in immigration courts, with an estimated 5,000 more awaiting decisions from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as of December 2025.
Data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) reveal a complex landscape: of the 15,794 Nepali asylum cases adjudicated by immigration courts by January 2025, 7,698 have been granted relief, while 3,499 resulted in final removal orders.
Among those ordered deported, approximately 2,900 remain in the U.S.—1,500 shielded by TPS and the rest without protection. An additional 4,000 Nepalis, granted various forms of court-ordered relief, remain in uncertainty as their futures hinge on upcoming policy decisions.
TPS Holders: A Ticking Clock
Currently, 7,505 Nepalis hold TPS, a status granted after Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake and extended through June 24, 2025. However, Trump’s plan to scale back TPS has sparked alarm. Of these TPS holders, around 1,500 have final deportation orders but remain protected—for now.
Once TPS ends, an estimated 1,000 Nepalis will be left without any legal immigration status, placing them in a precarious situation. Some of these individuals had their cases denied by USCIS but were not referred to immigration courts for deportation due to their TPS protection, leaving them in temporary but fragile legal standing.
Around 10,000 Nepalis in Different Situations and Statuses
Beyond these groups, an estimated 10,000 Nepalis reside in the U.S. under various non-immigrant visas—such as H-1B, J-1, or L-1—or as dependents of visa holders. Others lack formal legal status entirely, including those who overstayed student, visitor, or other visas, as well as individuals who entered without inspection and avoided Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encounters.
Some await family- or employment-based green cards at USCIS, while others have not been issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) by ICE. This shadowy population, often overlooked until enforcement actions escalate, fears mass deportation operations promised by the Trump administration.
Total Nepali Deportations Under Trump Reach 39
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removal flight deported eight Nepalis from the U.S. on Wednesday, March 5. Among them, six had valid Nepali passports, while the Nepali Embassy in Washington, D.C., issued travel documents for the remaining two. On the same day, another Nepali was deported to Nepal on a commercial flight.
All individuals had received final deportation orders from U.S. immigration courts. Some reportedly paid human traffickers large sums of money to enter the U.S. via Mexico, though the exact number remains unclear. A source confirmed that none of the deportees had entered the U.S. on student visas.
Nepal has consistently accepted its deported citizens without resistance, with the Nepali Embassy in Washington, D.C., facilitating this process by issuing travel documents upon ICE’s request. President Trump has warned of penalties for countries refusing to accept deported nationals, including visa restrictions. However, Nepal has never faced such issues.
As of March 2, ICE had deported 27 Nepalis under Trump’s administration, with three more deported to Panama instead of Nepal. The Nepali Embassy issued travel documents for 11 of the 27 deported individuals. However, many of the Nepalis deported before March 2 had already received their travel documents before Trump resumed office. Since his return, the Nepali Embassy has issued only about half a dozen travel documents, including two for those deported on March 5.
The exact number of Nepalis arrested by ICE since Trump’s return remains unclear. No data is available for Nepali deportations during the last four months of the Biden administration (October 1, 2024 – January 20, 2025).
Biden’s Immigration Enforcement Record on Nepalis
During Biden’s four-year term, ICE arrested 132 Nepalis and deported 130, while CBP detained over 2,700 Nepalis at the border and transferred them to ICE custody. In total, 2,891 Nepalis were held in ICE detention during this period.
ICE records show 11 Nepalis were detained in fiscal year 2021, 30 in 2022, 56 in 2023, and 35 in 2024. Of those arrested in 2024, 10 had criminal convictions, compared to 11 in 2023.
Thousands of Nepalis crossed into the U.S. without visas during Biden’s administration. In fiscal year 2024, 710 were detained by CBP or ICE, following 835 in 2023, 962 in 2022, and 384 in 2021.
During Biden’s presidency, ICE deported 130 Nepalis by air: 23 in 2021, 28 in 2022, 22 in 2023, and 57 in 2024.
Surge in Border Crossings Under Biden
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that nearly 9,000 Nepalis crossed the U.S. border without visas during Biden’s term, though only about 2,800 ended up in ICE custody.
By comparison, 1,850 Nepalis crossed the border without visas during Trump’s first term—a figure that surged nearly fivefold under Biden. The peak occurred in fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 – September 2024), when 3,690 Nepalis crossed the border without visas.
Since fiscal year 2025 began, 440 Nepalis crossed the border without visas in October and 300 in November. Earlier DHS data shows 3,140 border encounters in 2023, 1,490 in 2022, and 420 in 2021.
As Trump’s administration tightens immigration enforcement, the future remains uncertain for thousands of Nepalis living in the U.S., whether as students, asylum seekers, TPS holders, or undocumented residents. The fear of deportation and legal instability continues to shape their lives under the shifting policies of 2025.
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.
