Record 95 Nepalis Deported from U.S. in Single Largest Flight Ever

Immigration and customs officials stated that the United States deported a record 95 Nepali nationals in a single mass removal flight on Friday, marking the largest group repatriated from the U.S. in a single operation.

The 95 Nepalis, all of whom entered the U.S. without visas via the Mexican border, arrived on a chartered Omni Air aircraft that touched down at Tribhuvan International Airport at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time, according to immigration sources. Among the deportees were three women and 92 men, the Department of Immigration reported.

Officials say almost all of the 95 individuals had paid human smugglers between 8 million and 10 million Nepali rupees—roughly $60,000 to $75,000—to arrange their passage across Mexico’s southern border and subsequent entry into the U.S. without valid visas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) coordinated the flight, which had been scheduled for a week ago but was delayed by verification and documentation issues.

The Nepali Embassy in Washington verified the identities of nearly 100 deportees ahead of the flight; however, the final number dropped to 95 due to delays in confirming documents and legal status. The embassy has been providing identification and travel documents to Nepalis slated for deportation at the request of ICE.

This single-flight return of 95 Nepalis is the largest in history, surpassing the previous record of 80 deportees repatriated on January 20, marking the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second term. On that day, a chartered flight delivered 80 Nepalis—79 men and one woman—to Kathmandu.

In December 2025, U.S. authorities repatriated 75 Nepalis in another mass removal flight, including 69 men and six women. Since December 2025, at least one chartered deportation flight has operated each month, reflecting a pattern of stepped-up enforcement under the Trump administration’s strict immigration crackdown.

According to the Department of Immigration, 101 Nepalis were deported from the U.S. in January 2026 alone, including four women. Records show 98 were deported in December 2025 and 80 in November. Throughout 2025, monthly totals fluctuated: 6 in January, 18 in February, 32 in March, 26 in April, 58 in May, 42 in June, 17 in July, 16 in August, 53 in September, and 38 in October.

The department and Nepal Police noted that, in recent months, the deportees have been overwhelmingly young men who entered the U.S. illegally via Mexico, often lured by brokers promising legal status or work. Authorities at Tribhuvan Airport are handing the returnees over to the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau of the Nepal Police for questioning. Most are released to family members afterward unless written complaints are filed.

To date, bureau officials report receiving roughly two dozen complaints from recent deportees, primarily naming Nepal-based brokers. While the number of formal complaints remains low relative to the total number of deportations, investigators are currently focused on dismantling trafficking networks within Nepal.