US deports 29 more Bangladeshis in immigration crackdown

The US sent back 29 more Bangladeshi nationals today as part of an anti-illegal immigration operation.

They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 10:45am on a special flight chartered by the United States, said a Brac press release.

The 29 returnees hail from Noakhali, Dhaka, Cumilla, Munshiganj, Feni, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, and Madaripur districts.

Upon arriving at the airport, the Brac Migration programme provides returning workers with emergency assistance and transportation facilities to go home, with the help of the Expatriate Welfare Desk and Aviation Security (AVSEC) at the airport.

Earlier, on January 20 this year, the US sent back 36 Bangladeshi nationals.

The release also said most of the returnees first go to Brazil legally. Later, from there, they enter the US illegally via Mexico. To reach the US this way, they spend approximately Tk 45 lakh to Tk 50 lakh per person, in some cases up to Tk 60 lakh to 70 lakh. After entering the US, they apply for political asylum. After a lengthy legal process, their applications are rejected, and the US administration decides on their deportation.

Saiful Islam, one of the returnees from Noakhali district, stated that in 2024, he went to Brazil with clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET). He was arrested while trying to enter the US via Mexico through brokers.

Diyad Chowdhury, another returnee, said that he spent Tk 22 lakh to go to Brazil at the end of 2024 with clearance from BMET. From there, he entered the US via Mexico. After serving one year in prison, he has also returned today.

Abdul Sabur from Borolekha upazila in Moulvibazar stated that on October 28, 2023, he went to Brazil on a visit visa at a cost of Tk 64 lakh. From there, he reached the US on December 11, 2024, via multiple countries. When his asylum application was rejected, he was sent back to the country.

Shariful Hasan, associate director at Brac (migration and youth platform), said it is necessary to scrutinise whether there has been effective monitoring regarding whether the BMET, which is approving hundreds of workers to go to Brazil, is actually sending them there for employment or using it as a transit to the US.

Those involved with the relevant agencies and the approval process need to be held accountable, he said, adding that the government needs to be more cautious before granting permission to send workers to Brazil again.