In May 2025, the United States deported 58 Nepali citizens, marking a significant surge compared to the 26 deportations recorded in April—a 123% increase. According to Nepal’s airport immigration authorities, all individuals deported in May were male.
Since the start of the Trump administration on January 20, 2025, a total of 140 Nepalis have been deported to Nepal, with two others sent to Panama. The deportation process has included two chartered flights that brought deportees to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
The rise in deportations has become more pronounced since the Trump administration assumed office. In March 2025, 30 Nepalis were deported—24 men and 6 women. January saw six deportations, while February recorded 20, including six individuals deported on a single day, February 8. Most deportees were returned via commercial flights.
Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, they underwent routine questioning by the Immigration Bureau before being released. Authorities suspect that many had entered the U.S. with the help of human trafficking networks, though comprehensive investigations into these operations remain limited.
Immigration data highlights a stark contrast in deportation trends. In 2024, a total of 52 Nepalis were deported from the U.S., whereas the first five months of 2025 alone have seen nearly three times that number. By comparison, there were 24 deportations in 2023, 22 in 2022, and 35 in 2021. Between January 17, 2021, and December 30, 2024, a total of 133 Nepalis were deported.
Most deportees are believed to have entered the U.S. through Mexico, often paying up to $100,000 to human trafficking networks to facilitate their journey. Despite widespread suspicions of organized smuggling, detailed investigations have been lacking.
All 58 individuals deported in May, as well as the 140 deported since January 2025, were adults. While it remains unclear whether the deportees were handcuffed during transport, Nepali immigration officials confirmed that their arrival at the airport was handled routinely.
The U.S. has intensified efforts to deport undocumented immigrants under the Trump administration. Nepal has consistently cooperated in repatriating its citizens, with the Nepali Embassy in Washington, D.C., issuing travel documents upon request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). President Trump has warned of penalties, including visa restrictions, for countries that refuse to accept deported nationals, but Nepal has faced no such complications.
During the Biden administration’s four-year term, ICE detained 2,891 Nepalis—132 arrested within the U.S. and more than 2,700 apprehended at the border by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and transferred to ICE custody. In 2024, ICE detained 710 Nepalis, compared to 835 in 2023, 962 in 2022, and 384 in 2021. Of those detained in 2024, 10 were convicted of various crimes, while 11 had criminal convictions in 2023.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 9,000 Nepalis entered the U.S. without visas during the Biden administration. Of these, only about 2,800 were held in ICE custody, while others were released under the “catch and release” policy.
In contrast, 1,850 Nepalis entered without visas during the previous Trump administration—a number that rose nearly fivefold under Biden. In fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024), 3,690 Nepalis entered without visas—the highest annual figure recorded. In fiscal year 2025, 440 Nepalis entered without visas in October 2024, followed by 300 in November.
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Dipendra Dhungana
View More PostsDipendra Dhungana is a journalist based in Kathmandu with over a decade of experience in photojournalism. He currently works for Nepal’s national daily newspaper, Naya Patrika Daily. His work has been featured in numerous national and international outlets, showcasing the stories and resilience of the Nepali people. He is also a contributing journalist for NepYork.
