U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem unveiled a new nationwide and international ad campaign on Monday, warning undocumented immigrants to leave the United States voluntarily or face strict consequences including daily fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
The multimillion-dollar campaign, which features a blunt and aggressive message, is part of a broader crackdown under the Trump administration’s immigration policy. “If you are here illegally, you’re next,” Noem said in a statement. “You will be fined nearly $1,000 a day, imprisoned, and deported.”
According to DHS, the campaign will air on television and online platforms, both domestically and abroad. The ads are being produced in multiple languages and will be hyper-targeted to reach individuals currently living in the U.S. without legal authorization—particularly those evading law enforcement.
In the advertisements, Secretary Noem draws attention to serious crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, claiming, “Child molesters. Rapists. Murderers. These are just a few of the illegal alien scumbags who have been fined, imprisoned, and deported thanks to President Trump.”
To facilitate voluntary departures, the campaign promotes the use of the CBP Home app, which allows individuals to begin the self-deportation process. “President Trump and I have a clear message to those in our country illegally: LEAVE NOW,” Noem said. “If you do not self-deport, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and deport you. Download the FREE CBP Home app today to self-deport.”
The DHS says the goal of the campaign is twofold: to urge those already in the U.S. illegally to leave before they are apprehended, and to deter future illegal immigration by broadcasting the administration’s strict penalties.
This policy, which imposes fines of up to $998 per day on migrants who fail to leave the U.S. after receiving a final deportation order, could have a significant impact on hundreds of Nepali immigrants currently residing in the country. It aims to penalize those who defy deportation orders—a group that includes a considerable number of Nepalis, many of whom have built their lives in the U.S. over the past two decades.
Data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) reveals that over the last 20 years, around 3,500 Nepalis have received deportation orders from U.S. immigration courts, with nearly 40 percent—approximately 1,400—listing New York as their residence at the time of the ruling, according to a TRAC report.
The Nepali community’s vulnerability stems from a combination of expired legal protections and ongoing immigration challenges. Of the roughly 3,000 Nepalis still in the U.S. despite deportation orders, about 1,500 are shielded by Temporary Protected Status (TPS)—a humanitarian program granted after Nepal’s 2015 earthquake—while another 1,400 live without any legal protection.
Recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data shows that 1,356 Nepalis with deportation orders issued since June 2015 remain in the country without TPS. If Trump’s plan is enacted, these individuals would immediately face crushing daily fines, potentially accumulating debts exceeding $1 million over five years due to retroactive penalties permitted under the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act.
Geographically, the impact extends beyond New York. Statistics indicate that among the 3,500 Nepalis with deportation orders over the past two decades, around 500 resided in California, 350 in Texas, 200 in Maryland, and 150 in Georgia at the time of their court rulings. However, no precise data exists regarding their current locations, as many may have relocated following their hearings.
Of these individuals, approximately 2,200 were never detained, 800 were released after detention, and 550 received deportation orders while in custody—most of whom have likely returned to Nepal, according to TRAC. Legal representation also varied: about 2,300 hired lawyers, while 1,200 faced proceedings without counsel, potentially worsening their ability to navigate the system, as highlighted in the TRAC report.
The timing of deportation orders sheds additional light on the trend. The peak occurred in 2019, when 350 Nepalis received such rulings—121 of them New York residents—reflecting heightened enforcement during Trump’s first administration, which saw 900 Nepalis ordered deported over four years, according to TRAC.
In contrast, under President Biden’s four-year tenure, roughly 600 Nepalis have faced similar orders, with 40 issued in the first three months of the current fiscal year alone, as per the TRAC report. For those affected, the proposed fines represent an existential threat. Many Nepalis work in low-wage jobs where $998 equals a month’s savings or more.
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Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs.
