To Poonhill and others who think they did the right thing under the bad situation,

You cannot cover your mistake by doing illegal activities. This news is just in local media and in internet right now. However, it has potential to make it to CNN and Foxnews headline. If the immigration debate heats up and FoxNews and Bill O'Reilly picks this news up, they will definitely use it to drum up their anti-immigration support and all the Nepalese wanting to get a visa, wanting a job to support through school, etc. will be in trouble.

They are already in the INS wanted list now. I am sure Homeland security is looking for them and this has potential to hurt many other Nepalis unrelated to this incident, who may get caught when Homeland Securoity is looking for these people - like students who work 20 hours to support their school tuitions. This may also lead to further scrutiny in obtaining visa and getting a job for Nepalese.

So you cannot see this incident in isloation. Every action has consequences. I think in this case the negative consequences (trouble for many Nepalis in the US with visa, employment, deportation) significantly outweighs the posivite consequence (paying their Rs. 17 lakh debt). However, I know Nepalis do not think this way.