According to data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 216 Nepalis were deported from the United States between January 1 and July 31, 2025. However, Nepal’s Immigration Department records show only 199 individuals were deported to Nepal during this period, meaning the whereabouts of 17 Nepali deportees were unaccounted for in Nepal’s records. NepYork has revealed that these individuals were deported from the U.S. to third countries.
NepYork’s findings, which utilized ICE’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records, disclosed that these Nepalis were deported to countries including Costa Rica, Qatar, India, Bangladesh, and Canada. The records indicate that during the Trump administration, from January 20 to the end of July, at least 15 Nepalis were deported to third countries.
Including the two Nepalis deported to third countries in January before the start of the Trump administration (January 20), a total of 17 Nepalis were sent to third countries from January to July. Most of them were deported in February and April. Additionally, ICE data does not include three Nepalis reportedly deported to Panama in February.
Details of Third-Country Deportations
January 20: A 36-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2010, was deported to Qatar from Texas. He faced two pending criminal charges but had no final deportation order from an immigration court.
February 2: A 37-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2010, was deported to Qatar from Dallas, Texas. He was convicted in 2011 for driving under the influence and had a deportation order issued in 2017.
February 5: A 23-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. on October 13 (of the previous year), was deported to Canada from Buffalo, New York, following a deportation order.
February 14: A 22-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. without a visa via Arizona, was deported to Costa Rica on February 25 after a rapid deportation order. He faced three immigration violation charges. (Date inconsistency noted: deport date of Feb 25 is after Feb 14 entry, but is listed before the Feb 20 entry).
February 20: A 58-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2008, was deported to Qatar from New York’s JFK Airport. A deportation order was issued against him in 2018, along with three immigration violation charges.
February 21: A 33-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2014, was deported to India from San Francisco. A final deportation order was issued in 2021, with three immigration violation charges.
February 25: A 19-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. without a visa on February 14, was deported to Mexico from Arizona on the same day after a rapid deportation order. He faced three immigration violation charges. (Note: Mexico was not listed in the initial summary list of third countries).
February 26: A 28-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2017, was deported to Qatar from Boston. A deportation order was issued in 2018, and he faced two pending criminal charges.
March 26: A 43-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2004, was deported to Qatar via Chicago’s international airport. A deportation order had been issued on November 25 of the previous year, and he faced three immigration violation charges.
April 3: A 37-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. on December 27 (of the previous year), was deported to India from San Francisco. A deportation order was issued on February 14 (of the current year), with three immigration violation charges.
April 7: A 23-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. without a visa on January 21, was deported to India from San Francisco. A deportation order was issued on March 11, with three immigration violation charges.
April 10: A 45-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. on December 27 (of the previous year), was deported to India. A deportation order was issued on February 13 (of the current year).
April 24: A 58-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2010, was deported to India from Chicago. A deportation order was issued in 2016, with three immigration violation charges.
April 27: A 64-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. in 2002, was deported to Qatar from Los Angeles. He faced three immigration violation charges but had no final deportation order.
June 10: A 28-year-old Nepali male, who entered the U.S. without a visa on January 25, was deported to Bangladesh from Arizona. A rapid deportation order was issued on January 26, with three immigration violation charges.
The fate of those deported to third countries remains unclear, and Nepal’s Immigration Department has been unable to track their whereabouts.
Overall Deportation Figures
The Trump administration had deported 268 Nepalis to Nepal since January, and the number of Nepali citizens deported from the United States saw a significant increase in September.
According to the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport, 53 Nepali citizens—24 women and 29 men—were deported in September alone.
Since the start of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term on January 20, through September 30, a total of 268 Nepali nationals have been deported to Nepal, including 226 men and 42 women. While monthly figures in January, February, July, and August were comparatively low, the highest numbers of deportations occurred in May (58), June (42), and September (53).
The monthly breakdown of deportations shows a fluctuating but concerning rise: six in January, 18 in February, 32 in March, 26 in April, 58 in May, 42 in June, 17 in July, 16 in August, and 53 in September.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and associated work permits for Nepalis became invalid after August 20. USCIS noted that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, ended Nepal’s TPS. As a result, TPS benefits are no longer in effect as of that date. This decision has put over 7,000 Nepalis who held TPS at risk.
Protocols and Diplomacy
Upon arrival in Nepal, the deported citizens are handed over by the Immigration Department to the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau for further inquiry. The Bureau typically conducts brief questioning before releasing the individuals to the custody of their relatives. However, a swift investigation is initiated if a written complaint is filed.
Nepal has consistently accepted its returning citizens without issue. The Nepali Embassy in Washington D.C. plays a crucial role by readily providing the necessary travel documents requested by U.S. immigration for deported Nepalis. Despite President Trump’s warnings of action against countries that refuse to accept their deported citizens, Nepal’s continued policy of acceptance has prevented any tension with the U.S.
The Nepali Embassy has urged Nepali residents in the U.S. to be aware of the importance of legal documentation and to avoid unlawful means of immigration. Furthermore, the Nepal government recognizes a need to formulate effective plans for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of its deported citizens. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal also regularly uses social media to warn the public about immigration rules and the risks of choosing illegal pathways.
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.
