In the first three months of the Trump administration—February, March, and April 2025—a total of 533 Nepali immigrants were issued Notices to Appear (NTA) and referred to immigration courts to initiate deportation proceedings, according to data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
The breakdown shows 239 Nepalis were referred in February, 194 in March, and 100 in April. Data for May 2025 has not yet been released, but in January 2025, 235 Nepalis were referred for deportation proceedings.
Comparison with Biden Administration
While the Trump administration’s actions mark a significant enforcement effort, the rate of Nepali immigrants referred to immigration courts for deportation was notably high during the Biden administration as well.
In the final months of 2024, under Biden, 477 Nepalis were referred in October, 377 in November, and 230 in December.
Deportation proceedings are typically initiated by U.S. immigration agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS refers individuals to immigration courts when immigration applications, such as asylum or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), are denied, and the individual lacks other legal status to remain in the U.S.
ICE, on the other hand, targets individuals who violate immigration laws, including those who enter without a visa—often seeking asylum—or commit other immigration-related offenses.
Not all individuals referred to immigration courts are deported. Some successfully claim asylum, leading to permanent residency (green cards), while others secure alternative forms of relief to remain in the U.S. However, those who receive a final deportation order are legally required to leave the country.
Detailed Breakdown of February, March, and April 2025
February 2025: Of the 239 Nepalis referred to immigration courts, 147 had legal representation, while 92 did not. Among them, 24 had entered the U.S. without a visa via Mexico, and one faced additional criminal charges. Forty-three cases were unrelated to deportation, while 171 involved other immigration violations. Of the total, 192 were detained, 13 had been released from detention, and 34 had never been detained.
March 2025: Out of 194 Nepalis referred, 86 had lawyers, and 108 did not. Twenty-four entered without a visa via Mexico, and four faced additional criminal charges. A total of 126 were detained, five had been released, and 63 had never been detained.
April 2025: Of the 100 Nepalis referred, 43 were detained, while 57 had never been detained. Sixteen entered without a visa via Mexico. Seventy-nine lacked legal representation, while 21 had lawyers.
Broader Context and Fiscal Year 2025
USCIS reported referring over 26,000 immigrants to immigration courts after February 28, 2025, with a significant but unspecified number of Nepalis included, covering March and April referrals.
In fiscal year 2025 (starting October 2024), 1,852 Nepalis were referred for deportation proceedings. Of these, 760 were detained, 227 were released from detention, and 865 had never been detained. Notably, 512 entered without a visa via Mexico, eight faced other criminal charges, and two were accused of serious crimes.
Historical Trends Under Biden
The Biden administration saw a surge in Nepali immigrants entering the U.S. without visas via Mexico, particularly in fiscal year 2024, when 3,835 Nepalis were referred to immigration courts, 3,209 of whom were visa-less entrants from Mexico. Only 154 were detained, 181 were released, and 3,500 were never detained, marking the highest number of Nepali referrals in U.S. history.
In fiscal year 2023, 3,232 Nepalis were referred, with 2,758 entering via the Mexico border without a visa. In 2022, 1,366 were referred (889 via the Mexico border without a visa), and in 2021, 477 were referred (112 via the Mexico border without a visa). Over Biden’s term, nearly 10,000 Nepalis entered without visas via Mexico, with about 7,000 referred to immigration courts.
The lack of legal representation for a significant portion of those referred.
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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.
