Kathmandu: Four Nepali nationals deported from the United States arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday, bringing the total number of deportations under the Donald Trump administration to 67, according to immigration and security officials.
Airport authorities at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) said a chartered flight carrying three of the deportees landed at around 4 PM, while the fourth individual returned via a commercial flight.
According to the authorities, the three individuals on the chartered flight had reportedly entered the US illegally via Mexico. After their arrival, immigration officials received the returnees and began processing their cases. Once formalities are completed, they will be handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau (AHTB) for further investigation.
This is the latest in a series of deportations from the US. On March 5, nine Nepali nationals were deported under the Joe Biden administration. The AHTB later confirmed they were detained at the southern US border.
Investigations have revealed that deportees often pay large sums—ranging from Rs 4 million to Rs 7 million—to so-called ‘agents’ for the journey. However, none of the returnees have disclosed the names of the individuals involved in the smuggling operations.