In a formal letter addressed to President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi L. Noem, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, New York-based immigration attorney Keshab Raj Seadie has urgently requested that Nepal be designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The plea, dated September 11, 2025, comes as Nepal grapples with what Seadie describes as an “extraordinary and unprecedented crisis”: a wave of Gen Z-led protests that have toppled the government, resulted in dozens of deaths, and left the nation in a state of near-total civil breakdown.
The request highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Nepal, where violent clashes between security forces and protesters have escalated since early September. According to the letter, the crisis poses an immediate threat to the safety of returning Nepali nationals in the United States, estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 individuals, including former TPS holders, students, workers, asylum seekers, and those with expired immigration status. “TPS designation would provide temporary humanitarian relief for approximately 15,000–20,000 Nepali nationals in the U.S. who would face serious threats to their personal safety if forced to return during this crisis,” Seadie wrote.
The letter provides a detailed timeline of events that have plunged Nepal into chaos, aligning closely with reports from international media and organizations. On September 4, 2025, the Nepali government imposed a sweeping ban on major social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. This move ignited widespread outrage, particularly among the country’s youth, who are facing 20% unemployment rates and economic inequality.
By September 8, massive protests erupted in Kathmandu and other cities, led primarily by Generation Z demonstrators aged 13 to 28. Security forces responded with live ammunition, tear gas, and water cannons, resulting in at least 19 deaths and over 100 injuries on that day alone. The violence intensified on September 9, when Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and several cabinet ministers resigned amid escalating chaos. Protesters breached and set fire to key government buildings, including the parliament, Supreme Court, and various ministries, while also targeting politicians’ homes. The country’s main international airport, Tribhuvan International, was forced to shut down due to the unrest, stranding travelers and disrupting aid efforts.
On September 10, the Nepal Army was deployed to Kathmandu “to control the situation for the security of Nepal and Nepalis.” Hospitals reported treating hundreds of injured individuals, with dozens in critical condition from bullet wounds to the head and chest. The U.S. State Department issued advisories for American citizens in Nepal to shelter in place, underscoring the breakdown in public safety.
As of September 15, the death toll had risen to at least 72, with the army now patrolling streets and guarding the parliament. On September 12, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as interim Prime Minister, marking Nepal’s first female leader in this role. Gen Z protest leaders, who organized much of the movement through alternative networks despite the ban, have expressed support for Karki but continue to demand an end to corruption and the restoration of civil liberties. The social media ban was repealed shortly after the protests began, but the damage to Nepal’s fragile democracy—already turbulent since the end of its monarchy in 2008—appears profound.
Seadie’s letter argues that Nepal qualifies for TPS under two key INA provisions: Section 244(b)(1)(A) for ongoing armed conflict and Section 244(b)(1)(B) for extraordinary and temporary circumstances preventing safe return. Citing Human Rights Watch documentation, the attorney points to “systematic state violence” where police received “orders from above” to use lethal force against civilians, constituting an armed conflict between security forces and protesters. The complete dissolution of parliamentary authority, the burning of essential institutions, and military deployment have left no functioning government to ensure basic security.
“Graphic footage shows police shooting peaceful protesters, some in school uniforms, with some struck by bullets to the head,” the letter states, emphasizing immediate physical dangers including overwhelmed healthcare systems, internet restrictions limiting emergency access, and widespread looting. Seadie warns that forced returns would not only endanger lives but also exacerbate Nepal’s economic collapse, as over 2,000 young people emigrate daily for work.
The Nepali community in the U.S. includes about 7,000 individuals whose TPS expired on August 20, 2025, alongside vulnerable groups like F-1 visa students facing closed institutions and temporary workers at risk of deportation. Seadie invokes precedents from the Trump Administration and prior ones, such as TPS designations for countries facing similar unrest, arguing that granting TPS aligns with U.S. humanitarian leadership and regional stability interests.
The requested designation calls for an initial 18-month period with automatic work authorization for Nepali nationals present in the U.S. as of September 8, 2025—the onset of large-scale violence—regardless of their current status. It suggests a 180-day registration window with flexibility for late filings and alternative documentation due to Nepal’s collapsed services.
Experts and observers on social media platforms like X have drawn parallels to the Nepal crisis as a cautionary tale for other nations, with users noting how the social media ban backfired spectacularly, leading to the government’s swift downfall.
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.
