Kathmandu, June 8
At least 40 Nepali nationals deported from the United States are set to arrive in Kathmandu today on a US-chartered flight, according to Nepal’s Department of Immigration.
The aircraft, carrying deported individuals, is scheduled to land at Tribhuvan International Airport at around 4:15 PM Sunday, an immigration source confirmed.
Senior Immigration Officer and Spokesperson Anjan Neupane said the government had received a letter from US authorities about the deportation of Nepali citizens roughly 10–12 days ago, but the exact number of individuals on board was not specified. “The final figure will be known once the aircraft lands,” he said.
According to immigration sources, the US had initially planned to deport 48 Nepalis, but a few were held back at the last minute, bringing the expected number down to around 40.
The chartered plane is repatriating deportees from several countries and will make its stop in Kathmandu before returning.
Since former President Donald Trump began his second term in office on January 20, US immigration policy has tightened, particularly targeting individuals who have overstayed their visas, entered the country illegally, or have a record of misconduct. The recent deportations of Nepalis fall under this broader policy shift.
However, the specific reasons for the deportations of today’s arrivals remain unclear. “The letter only mentions that these individuals violated US immigration laws,” Neupane said. “It doesn’t specify whether they entered illegally, overstayed their visas, or were deported for other reasons.”
According to data from the Department of Immigration, a total of 140 Nepalis have been deported from the US between January and May 2025 alone: 6 in January, 20 in February, 30 in March, 26 in April, and 58 in May.
Many of those deported had reportedly paid hefty sums to brokers in attempts to illegally enter the United States.
Nepalis have been deported from the US in previous years as well: 35 in 2021, 22 in 2022, 24 in 2023, and 52 in 2024.
Once deportees arrive in Nepal, they undergo brief questioning by the Bureau of Anti-Human Trafficking before being allowed to return home. Investigations into trafficking rackets are only initiated if deportees file formal complaints against agents or brokers.
