A growing number of Nepali nationals are returning home from Central America after failing to complete their unauthorized journeys to the United States, following the Trump administration’s reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy and stricter immigration enforcement.
Many Nepalis who paid human traffickers hundreds of thousands of rupees to reach Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico have been unable to enter the United States without valid visas. The policy, which requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to detain and return certain migrants to Mexico, has forced many travelers to abandon their journeys midway.
According to embassy sources, Nepalis stranded in Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico have been contacting the Nepali Embassy in Washington, D.C., for assistance. The embassy has been issuing travel documents free of charge and sending them by email to help stranded citizens return to Nepal.
In 2025, the embassy had issued travel documents to 14 Nepalis attempting to return from these countries. This includes three people from Mexico (two men and one woman), nine from Panama (eight men and one woman), and two men from Costa Rica.
Many of those seeking assistance reported losing their passports during the journey and lacking proper documentation to return home. Others said they decided to return to Nepal after realizing they could not enter the United States.
Some travelers claimed to have paid human traffickers up to $100,000 each for the journey. Several told the embassy they were left without any documents after losing their passports along the way.
In May 2025, 20 Nepali nationals attempting to enter the United States without authorization were repatriated from Panama. Each member of the group had reportedly paid human traffickers up to $100,000. They were arrested for violating Panamanian immigration laws by entering the country without valid visas, in an operation carried out with the support of the Panamanian government and U.S. authorities.
According to the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, 14 of those repatriated had passports, while the remaining six were issued travel documents by the Nepali Embassy in Washington, D.C.
In February 2025, the United States deported 119 individuals to Panama, including three Nepali nationals, under an agreement between the Trump administration and the Panamanian government.
Girija Adhikari
View More PostsGirija Adhikari is a Nepali journalist, author, and press freedom advocate with over two decades of experience. He has worked with leading Nepali radio stations and publications, authored several books and poetry collections, and received top honors, including the Janasewa Shree award from the Government of Nepal. A former central committee member of the Nepal Press Union, he continues to champion independent journalism.
