Record Number of Nepalis Deported from the U.S. in November

The number of Nepali citizens deported from the United States reached a monthly high during the second term of Donald Trump’s administration in November 2025.

According to the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), a total of 80 Nepali nationals were deported from the U.S. in November 2025, including two women and 78 men. Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term on January 20, 2025, through November 30, a cumulative total of 386 Nepali citizens have been deported.

Reviewing the monthly data for 2025, deportation numbers remained relatively low in January (6), February (18), and July (17). The highest figures were recorded in November (80), followed by May (58), September (53), and June (42), underscoring November’s exceptional volume.

Single-Day Deportation: 35 Arrivals

On November 19, 2025, 35 Nepali citizens were deported from the United States in a single day, arriving at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on a deportation flight.

According to the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau, the deportees represented a mixed group, though the vast majority—33 out of 35 individuals—had attempted to enter the U.S. without a visa, primarily through Mexico. The remaining two individuals were visa violators: one had originally entered on a student visa and the other on a tourist visa. Both had either overstayed their authorized period or violated visa terms, resulting in an “out-of-status” designation and subsequent removal.

Sources from the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau reported that the deportees hail from several districts across Nepal, with 16 individuals from Dang alone and others from districts including Rukum.

Financial Toll Exceeds $2 Million

The financial burden borne by this group is staggering, with the 35 individuals collectively spending over $2 million in trafficking-related fees. Detailed reporting on the payments reveals a wide range among the 33 irregular entrants.

Of them, nine individuals paid up to $70,000 each; four paid $62,000; another four paid up to $55,000; five paid between $48,000 and $52,000; and eight paid between $28,000 and $42,000. Five individuals declined to disclose the amounts they paid.

Deportees Predominantly Young Adults

Analysis of the deportees’ data shows that most are young adults in their prime working years. About 71.4% are under the age of 36, with the largest group (42.8%) being between 26 and 35 years old.

The full age breakdown is as follows: 10 individuals are aged 18–25, 15 are 26–35, seven are 36–45, and three are 46–55.

Upon arrival, deported individuals are handed over to the Human Trafficking Bureau for further investigation. However, the bureau typically conducts basic questioning before releasing them to their families, with detailed investigations initiated only if a formal complaint is filed.

Stricter Policy and TPS Termination Fuel Surge

The surge in deportations is attributed to the stricter enforcement of immigration laws since the start of President Trump’s second term, specifically targeting individuals residing in the U.S. without valid documentation. This has placed a significant number of Nepalis at risk of removal.

The situation was further exacerbated by the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepali nationals. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that TPS and associated work permits for Nepalis became invalid after August 20, 2025. This followed a decision by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and a subsequent Ninth Circuit Court ruling that lifted a lower court’s stay, allowing the termination to take effect.

Diplomatic Ties Undisturbed

Former Nepali Ambassador Yuba Nath Lamsal noted that the deportation of Nepali citizens from the U.S. is not unprecedented and will not affect diplomatic relations.

“Every country deports those residing illegally according to its laws. This is not new, nor is the U.S. only deporting Nepalis. Therefore, this will certainly not affect the relationship between the two countries,” Lamsal said.

Despite the stability of diplomatic engagement—Nepal’s embassy in Washington, D.C., continues to cooperate by promptly issuing travel documents—Lamsal cautioned that the U.S. Embassy in Nepal may adopt stricter visa procedures. He expressed concern that such tightening could affect individuals with legitimate travel purposes, leading to increased scrutiny and suspicion.

Lamsal advised Nepalis traveling abroad to comply fully with host-country regulations to avoid personal hardship and protect Nepal’s international image. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the rising number of deportations remains a regrettable trend.