US deports 23 more Bangladeshis amid immigration crackdown

The United States deported 23 more Bangladeshis as part of its ongoing crackdown on irregular migration, according to the Brac Migration Programme.

They arrived today at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 11:00am on special flight. With assistance from the Expatriates’ Welfare Desk and Aviation Security, Brac provided immediate support, counselling and transport to their destinations.

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Of the returnees, 13 are from Noakhali and three from Sylhet. Others are from districts including Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Brahmanbaria, Munshiganj, Cumilla, Lakshmipur.

Shariful Hasan, associate director of Brac’s Migration and Youth Platform, said most had entered the US after taking long, costly and dangerous routes through South and Central America. Each spent around Tk 50-65 lakh on average.

Initial information suggests 20 of the returnees travelled from Brazil through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala before crossing the Mexican border into the US. They crossed 13-15 countries by bus and on foot. Another travelled from South Africa to Brazil before using the same route, while one entered through New York.

Returnees said most who used the Brazil route had travelled there with clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, while others entered on tourist visas before taking irregular routes with brokers’ help. Some worked in the US but were later deported after failing to meet immigration requirements.

Under US law, undocumented immigrants may be deported following court rulings or administrative orders. When asylum applications are rejected, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arranges deportation, increasingly using chartered and special flights.