US deports 23 Bangladeshis

At least 23 Bangladeshi nationals were repatriated from the United States on Thursday after being found in violation of US immigration laws.

They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka early in the day on a special flight arranged by US authorities, according to airport and immigration sources.

The returnees reportedly left Bangladesh in 2014 on work visas and later travelled through several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Brazil and Peru, before entering the United States through irregular routes.

Although some of them found employment in the US, they later came under immigration scrutiny for violating residency requirements and other immigration regulations.

Following legal proceedings and the completion of deportation formalities, they were returned to Bangladesh.

After completing immigration and other mandatory procedures, the returnees left the airport at around 1:30pm.

BRAC provided each returnee with Tk5,000 in financial assistance and arranged light refreshments to meet their immediate needs.

The repatriation comes amid continued deportations of Bangladeshi nationals from different countries for immigration-related violations, including irregular entry, visa overstays and breaches of residency rules.

Migration experts have repeatedly urged prospective migrants to use legal channels and comply with the laws of destination countries, warning that irregular migration can expose them to exploitation, detention, legal complications and deportation.