KATHMANDU, JANUARY 22, 2026 – In a significant escalation of US immigration enforcement, a total of 583 Nepali citizens were deported from the United States during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term. According to the latest data from the Department of Immigration and the Nepal Police, the number of deportations has surged as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carries out a massive nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The most recent group of 80 Nepali nationals (79 men and one woman) arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on a chartered flight this past Tuesday. Upon arrival, the deportees were handed over to the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau of the Nepal Police for questioning and documentation. This latest group brings the total number of Nepalis returned via both chartered and commercial flights to 583 for the 2025-2026 period—a stark increase compared to previous years when the annual deportation figures rarely exceeded 50 to 60.
The “Illegal Route” and Financial Loss Investigation reveals a tragic pattern: the majority of those deported had entered the US through the dangerous “lower route” via Mexico. Many reported paying human traffickers and organized smuggling networks between Rs. 5 million and Rs. 10 million (USD 37,000 to $75,000) to reach the American border. Most of the returnees hail from western districts of Nepal, including Dang, Rukum West, and Rolpa. Many families are now facing financial ruin, having taken high-interest loans from local moneylenders to fund the illegal journey.
Policy Shifts and ICE Crackdown The surge in deportations follows the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy on illegal immigration, which was reinstated immediately after his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
- Chartered Repatriation: US authorities have shifted from using commercial flights to arranging entire chartered aircraft (often via Omni Air) specifically to repatriate groups of South Asian migrants.
- Targeting Non-Criminals: While previous administrations focused primarily on those with criminal records, current ICE operations are targeting anyone with a final deportation order, those who have overstayed their visas, and individuals whose asylum claims were rejected.
- Burden Argument: US officials have hinted that the crackdown also targets individuals deemed a “public charge,” claiming that a high percentage of undocumented residents rely on government financial assistance.
Legal Limbo for TPS Holders The situation remains tense for the nearly 7,000 to 12,000 Nepalis currently holding Temporary Protected Status (TPS). While the Department of Homeland Security attempted to terminate Nepal’s TPS designation in mid-2025, a recent federal court ruling on December 31, 2025, has temporarily blocked the termination, providing a brief legal shield for those under the program. However, for those without any legal status, the threat of detention and deportation remains at an all-time high.
The Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau is currently using the testimonies of the deportees to track down local agents in Kathmandu and western Nepal who lure youth with false promises of a “Green Card” through illegal border crossings. Authorities have strongly advised citizens not to use illegal channels, warning that the “Mexico route” has effectively been closed due to heightened US border security and immediate deportation policies.