The United States has deported 140 Nepali nationals so far in 2025, and a record group is expected to arrive in Kathmandu on June 8, according to Nepal’s Department of Immigration (DoI).
Sources from the department confirmed that the US Embassy in Kathmandu has formally notified officials about the pending arrival of what could be the largest single group of deported Nepalis ever. While the exact number is yet to be disclosed, preparations are underway at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to handle the influx.
The mass deportations are part of a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants led by President Donald Trump, who began his second term in January 2025. The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement, including issuing an executive order targeting undocumented individuals.
Most deportees were reportedly removed for violating US immigration laws, such as illegal entry or visa overstays. Upon arrival in Nepal, they are handed over to Nepal Police for questioning. Authorities typically inquire about travel routes and potential human trafficking networks that may have facilitated their illegal entry into the US.
According to US records, over 1.4 million individuals are currently slated for deportation, with 1,365 of them being Nepali citizens. In sharp contrast, only 35 Nepalis were deported in 2024 under President Joe Biden’s administration.
“The number of deportations under Trump has increased drastically,” said an immigration officer. “Monthly figures now rival what used to be annual totals.”
Officials in Nepal are closely monitoring the situation and preparing for further arrivals, emphasizing coordination among immigration, police, and social welfare agencies.
