US to deport undocumented Bangladeshis
Staff Reporter :
The United States is preparing to deport undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants as part of its broader policy on illegal migration, following an earlier decision by President Donald Trump.
However, US authorities have not disclosed the specific number of undocumented Bangladeshis or a definitive timeline for their deportation.
Diplomatic sources in both Dhaka and Washington confirmed the development, noting that Bangladesh has formally requested that deported individuals be treated with dignity, particularly asking that they not be handcuffed or subjected to disrespectful treatment during the process.
According to diplomatic channels, the US embassy in Dhaka informed Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs last month about the planned deportations, prompting the Bangladesh government to send a diplomatic letter to Washington expressing concerns over the treatment of returnees.
An inter-ministerial meeting held on Wednesday afternoon at Bangladesh’s Secretariat, chaired by Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, discussed the repatriation process.
The meeting focused on verifying the citizenship status of the returnees before accepting them back into the country.
Officials emphasized that Bangladeshis should be repatriated without handcuffs or humiliating treatment.
A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Bangladesh wants its citizens to return with dignity, and the government is working to ensure that deportees without criminal records are treated respectfully during the process.
While the US government has not revealed the exact number of undocumented Bangladeshis, sources indicated that the highest concentration of these individuals is likely in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Several US government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are involved in overseeing immigration enforcement.
The Bangladesh government has reportedly shown a cooperative stance in facilitating the repatriation of undocumented Bangladeshis, and US authorities have assured that deportees without criminal records will not face disrespectful treatment.
Sources have noted that President Trump’s immigration policies have been marked by unpredictability, pointing to instances where deported Colombian migrants were treated harshly, including being sent back in handcuffs.
However, diplomatic sources suggest that such treatment is unlikely for Bangladeshis, given the relatively lower number of undocumented Bangladeshi migrants in the US.
It is also believed that Bangladeshis will not be deported via chartered flights, unlike migrants from other countries.
Nevertheless, there is caution regarding potential shifts in Trump’s policies during his second term, with some officials referencing his past threats to impose tariffs on countries like Colombia, Canada, and Mexico over immigration issues.
As Bangladesh prepares for the return of its citizens, the situation remains fluid, with both countries working to navigate the repatriation process while ensuring respect for the rights and dignity of the deported individuals.