Exclusive: 80 Nepalis Deported from the U.S. in First 100 Days of Trump’s Second Term

In the first 100 days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, 80 Nepali nationals have been deported from the United States. The crackdown on undocumented immigrants has significantly impacted Nepalis, particularly those who entered the U.S. illegally, often paying up to $100,000 to human traffickers to cross the border.

The majority of these deportees entered the U.S. via Mexico, and their lack of proper documentation has led to their removal, with deportations continuing at a steady pace. According to Nepal’s Department of Immigration, between January 20, 2025, when Trump assumed office, and April 26, 2025, a total of 78 Nepalis arrived in Nepal after being deported from the U.S. Additionally, two Nepalis were deported to Panama, though their current status remains unknown.

This marks a sharp increase compared to previous years, with the number of deportations in the first four months of 2025 nearly 54% higher than the entire year of 2024, when 52 Nepalis were deported, according to the Department of Immigration Nepal.

Breaking down the deportation figures, the U.S. deported six Nepalis in January 2025 after Trump’s inauguration. This number rose to 20 in February, with a notable instance on February 8 when six Nepalis were deported to Nepal in a single day. In March, 30 Nepalis—24 men and six women—were sent back, and from April 1 to April 26, an additional 22 undocumented Nepalis were deported.

The surge in deportations under Trump’s second term contrasts starkly with previous years. In 2024, 52 Nepalis were deported, while 24 were deported in 2023, 22 in 2022, and 35 in 2021. From January 17, 2021, to December 30, 2024, a total of 133 Nepalis were deported from the U.S., underscoring that the 80 deportations in early 2025 represent a significant uptick in enforcement actions.

Nepal has consistently accepted its deported citizens without resistance, facilitating their return through cooperation between the Nepali Embassy in Washington, D.C., and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The embassy promptly issues travel documents for deportees upon ICE’s request, ensuring a smooth process. This cooperative stance aligns with Trump’s warnings that countries refusing to accept their deported nationals could face penalties, including visa bans for government officials. Nepal has avoided such issues, maintaining a seamless repatriation process.

While precise data on ICE arrests of Nepalis under Trump’s current term is unavailable, the Biden administration’s four-year tenure (2021–2024) provides context. During that period, ICE arrested 132 Nepalis across the U.S., with 11 in 2021, 30 in 2022, 56 in 2023, and 35 in 2024. Of those arrested in 2024, 10 were convicted of various crimes, and in 2023, 11 had criminal convictions. Additionally, over 2,700 Nepalis were apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border and transferred to ICE custody. In total, 2,891 Nepalis were detained by ICE during Biden’s term, including 710 in 2024, 835 in 2023, 962 in 2022, and 384 in 2021.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that CBP encountered approximately 9,000 Nepalis entering the U.S. without visas during Biden’s presidency, primarily through the southern border. However, only about 2,800 were detained by ICE, with others released under the “catch and release” policy.

In contrast, during Trump’s first term (2017–2021), CBP encountered 1,850 Nepalis entering illegally, a figure nearly five times lower than under Biden. The peak year for unauthorized Nepali entries was fiscal year 2024 (October 2023–September 2024), with 3,690 crossings. In fiscal year 2025, 440 Nepalis entered without visas in October 2024, and 300 in November 2024, compared to 3,140 in 2023, 1,490 in 2022, and 420 in 2021.

Recently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disclosed that 1,365 Nepali nationals are currently living in the United States with final deportation orders. These individuals are part of a larger group of approximately 1.45 million immigrants who remain in the country despite being ordered to leave.

Although not in ICE custody, these Nepali nationals are considered a priority for deportation under the Trump administration. Previously, NepYork reported data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review indicating that around 3500 Nepalis had received deportation orders. However, the latest ICE data suggests that nearly 2,000 of them have either left the U.S., been deported by ICE, are covered by other statuses such as TPS, or have adjusted their immigration status through other means. Approximately 1,500 Nepalis received final deportation orders were not eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

“A final order of deportation (or removal) is issued when a noncitizen is legally required to leave the United States after exhausting all appeals in their immigration case. Deportation proceedings can begin in several ways, including for individuals who entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI) and later filed for asylum, which may be denied and referred to immigration court. Those who entered legally but overstayed their visa and filed for asylum with the asylum office may also be referred to immigration court if their case is denied. Noncitizens arrested for illegal entry at the border are often sent directly to immigration court for removal proceedings,” said New York-based immigration attorney Keshab Raj Seadie.

“If the immigration court denies the case, the individual can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and, subsequently, to the federal courts. A final order of deportation is issued when all appeals are denied or when the individual fails to appeal within the allowed timeframe. Additionally, if an individual does not attend their immigration court hearing, an order of deportation in absentia is issued. This underscores the importance of attending hearings and staying engaged in the legal process,” Seadie added.

Additional reporting by the New York team.