According to a report released on Thursday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Biden administration has deported 115 Nepalis through ICE removal flights. These deportations occurred over the course of the Biden administration’s four-year term. Out of a total of 130 Nepalis deported between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, 15 of them were removed in the first four months of fiscal year 2021, prior to President Biden taking office.
In fiscal year 2024, the highest number of deportations under the Biden administration was recorded, with 57 Nepalis being deported. This indicates a significant increase of nearly 160% compared to the 22 deportations in fiscal year 2023. In the preceding fiscal years, 28 Nepalis were deported in 2022 and 23 in 2021, with only 7 of them occurring after Biden assumed office. In contrast, during the last year of the Trump administration in 2020, a total of 97 Nepalis were deported.
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The majority of individuals who were deported were caught while trying to enter the United States illegally through Mexico. Once they were apprehended, ICE would detain them for a certain period of time before ultimately deporting them back to Nepal.
In the recent years, ICE deported a total of 162 Nepalis in fiscal year 2019, which marks the highest number. Comparatively, the number of deportations in fiscal years 2018 and 2017 stood at 45 each, while in fiscal year 2016, 25 Nepalis were deported. The figures for fiscal year 2015 and 2014 were 23 and 44 Nepalis, respectively, who faced deportation.
Most of the Nepalis who faced ICE deportations were individuals who had paid brokers thousands of dollars to enter the U.S. illegally through Mexico without proper visas. According to reports, some even spent up to $100,000 for these risky journeys.
A Nepali immigrant from Salyan, Nepal, who arrived in the U.S. without legal documentation, opened up about his journey to NepYork.com. He shared, “To come to the USA, I took out a loan of over $100,000. The interest rate on this loan is sky-high, and I’m uncertain when I’ll be able to pay it off. Currently, I haven’t been able to secure employment, and it’s a constant struggle to meet my loan payments, support my family back in Nepal, and cover my lawyer’s fees.”
Ram Chhetri, a resident of Ghorahi-15, Dang, Nepal, bravely invested a substantial sum of money to pursue his dream of entering the United States. Accompanied by three companions, he embarked on a treacherous journey that spanned 12 countries, facing numerous challenges along the way. Throughout their arduous expedition, they encountered threats, experienced hunger, and endured harsh treatment. Unfortunately, their ordeal took a turn for the worse when they were apprehended by agents in Colombia, who not only detained them but also robbed them of their hard-earned money.
After facing numerous hurdles, Ram’s aspirations were shattered upon his arrival in the United States. His application for asylum was denied after spending 14 months in detention, leading to his eventual deportation back to Nepal. Recounting his difficult journey, Ram expressed, “My parents had to sell land to send me to the USA. While I do have regrets about the past, I still hold onto hope for a better future.”
The numbers provided do not take into account individuals who left the United States willingly after receiving deportation orders from immigration courts. These figures only pertain to individuals who were detained by ICE and deported at the expense of ICE. Furthermore, the data does not encompass individuals with deportation orders who were not under the custody of ICE.
During this period, ICE conducted enforcement operations across the country, shedding light on larger patterns. A total of 271,484 noncitizens with final orders of removal were successfully removed, representing 192 different countries. Notably, among those removed were 88,763 individuals with charges or convictions for criminal activity, 3,706 known or suspected gang members, 237 known or suspected terrorists, and eight human rights violators. These numbers reflect ICE’s efforts to ensure public safety and uphold immigration laws.
During the fiscal year, over 30% of the individuals who were removed had criminal backgrounds. On average, each person had 5.63 convictions and/or charges, with a significant number of them being involved in serious offenses. Furthermore, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) successfully apprehended individuals who were wanted in their home countries for crimes such as terrorism and participation in torture.
According to a recent report by ICE, there are currently 1,365 Nepalis residing in the U.S. without any legal status despite having deportation orders. The majority of these individuals received their deportation orders under both the Trump and Biden administrations. However, those who were issued deportation orders prior to June 2015 have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which provides them with protection against deportation.