Record 130 Nepalis Deported from U.S. in February Alone

Nepal’s Department of Immigration revealed that a record 130 Nepalis were deported from the United States in February 2026, the highest monthly figure to date. Among them, 124 were men and six were women.

Since President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the total number of Nepalis deported from the U.S. has surpassed 700. Deportations have surged in recent months, often via chartered flights carrying large groups.

In January 2026, 101 Nepalis were deported, including only four women; a chartered flight that month brought back 95 individuals, including three women. December 2025 saw over 95 deportees, 75 of whom arrived in a single day (69 men and six women). November 2025 recorded 80 deportees, and January 2026 featured a chartered flight with 80 Nepalis (79 men and one woman).

Data from earlier in 2025 shows a steady rise: January (6), February (18), March (32), April (26), May (58), June (42), July (17), August (16), September (53), and October (38).

The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement since taking office, prioritizing border security and cracking down on undocumented migrants worldwide—a key plank of his 2024 election win. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security report over 675,000 deportations of undocumented immigrants in the past year, plus more than 2.2 million voluntary departures. Nepali communities in the U.S. have felt a sharp impact.

Most deportees entered the U.S. illegally via Mexico, paying agents up to $75,000 each. Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s Immigration Office hands them over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau for initial questioning. The bureau releases them to relatives after basic checks but launches deeper probes if formal complaints arise.

Over 24 complaints have surfaced so far, mostly targeting Nepali agents, though this remains low compared to overall deportation numbers.