Nepali immigration authorities have arrested a U.S. citizen on charges of operating an unregistered shelter home for underage girls under the pretext of providing humanitarian support.
According to the Department of Immigration, the U.S. national was taken into custody for allegedly engaging in suspicious activities. Officials said the individual first entered Nepal in 2017 and returned in 2020, residing in the country continuously since then. He is currently in Nepal on a business visa.
The investigation found that although he had registered a company named Calvary Service Center Pvt. Ltd. in Sindhupalchok’s Sunkoshi Municipality, the business had shown little to no operation. The company’s listed address in Lalitpur-18, Sainbu, also raised further suspicion, according to the department.
Authorities discovered that the man had rented a house in Godawari Municipality, Lalitpur, where he was allegedly running an illegal children’s home without the required government registration or board oversight. The facility housed 12 young girls from economically disadvantaged families, reportedly taken in “for shelter.”
The Immigration Department said the foreigner had repeatedly acquired student and business visas to prolong his stay. After his arrest, he allegedly made hostile remarks against the Nepali government and law enforcement, the department added.
Local residents have accused the U.S. citizen of engaging in activities related to Christian proselytization and of maintaining questionable conduct with the girls. Neighbors reported that religious messages had been painted on the walls of the rented building, heightening their concerns.
Officials said a five-day investigation is underway to determine his visa status, the legality of his activities, and whether any of the children were subjected to abuse. Following the investigation, authorities will decide on his possible deportation or prosecution under Nepali law.
The arrested U.S. national is also suspected of having ties with Daniel Steven Carney, another U.S. citizen previously deported from Nepal for allegedly using a publication business to promote Christianity. Carney was found to have been indirectly involved in running a children’s home that reportedly introduced Christianity to children from remote and poor families under the guise of providing education.
D. Dhungana
View More PostsDipendra Dhungana is a journalist based in Kathmandu with over a decade of experience in photojournalism. His work has been featured in numerous national and international outlets, showcasing the stories and resilience of the Nepali people. He is also a contributing journalist for NepYork.
