US deports 23 more Bangladeshis amid irregular migration crackdown

The United States has deported 23 more Bangladeshi nationals as part of its ongoing crackdown on irregular migration, with most of the returnees having travelled to the US through risky routes across South and Central America.

The deportees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today (30 July) on a special flight. Upon arrival, they received immediate assistance, counselling and transportation support from the BRAC Migration Programme, in coordination with the airport’s Expatriates’ Welfare Desk and Aviation Security (AVSEC).

According to BRAC, 13 of the returnees are from Noakhali, while the others are from Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Brahmanbaria, Munshiganj, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Dhaka and other districts.

Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC’s Migration Programme and Youth Platform, said preliminary findings suggest that most of the deportees paid between Tk50 lakh and Tk65 lakh each to migration brokers to reach the US through irregular channels.

He said many of them first travelled to Brazil before crossing several countries, including Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, to reach the US-Mexico border.

Many reportedly crossed 13 to 15 countries, travelling by bus and on foot, before attempting to enter the United States, he added.

BRAC said some of the returnees had initially travelled to Brazil with clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), while others entered the country on tourist visas before joining irregular migration routes towards the US.

Although some managed to secure jobs after reaching the US, they were later deported for violating US immigration laws, the organisation said.

According to BRAC, 369 Bangladeshi nationals have been deported from the United States since the beginning of 2025, including the latest group.

The organisation urged prospective migrants to avoid traffickers and dangerous irregular routes and encouraged them to pursue safe and legal channels for overseas employment.