39 more Bangladeshis deported from US arrive in Dhaka
Under US law, undocumented immigrants can be deported based on court orders or administrative directives.
Thirty-nine more Bangladeshis deported from the United States arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport this morning (28 November) on a special US military flight.
After landing, Brac provided them with transportation and emergency support through the airport authorities.
Of the returnees, 26 are from Noakhali. The rest include two each from Cumilla, Sylhet, Feni and Lakshmipur and one each from Chattogram, Gazipur, Dhaka, Munshiganj and Narsingdi.
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The US administration had deported 187 Bangladeshis earlier this year.
According to Brac's Migration Programme, at least 34 of the 39 travelled to Brazil with clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
From Brazil, 34 entered the US illegally via Mexico. Of the remaining five, two travelled directly to the US, while three entered through South Africa.
After the 39 applied to stay in the US, authorities completed legal procedures and decided to deport them.
Shariful Hasan, associate director (migration and youth) at Brac, said, "The government allowed workers to travel legally to Brazil, but was there any monitoring or strategy to ensure they were going to Brazil and not the United States?"
"When each person spends Tk30 to Tk35 lakh and still returns empty-handed, who bears responsibility?" he asked.
Returnees and airport officials said earlier groups deported this year had been sent back in handcuffs and leg shackles, but this group had not been restrained during deportation.
Deportation drives targeting undocumented immigrants have intensified in Donald Trump's second term as US President, with Bangladeshis, along with nationals of several other countries, being deported in phases.
From the beginning of 2024 to August this year, the total number of Bangladeshis deported from the US exceeded 220.
Under US law, undocumented immigrants can be deported based on court orders or administrative directives.
If asylum claims fail, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arranges their repatriation.
Due to an acceleration of this process, the use of chartered and military flights has increased.
