US deports 23 more Bangladeshis

The United States has deported another 23 Bangladeshi nationals for violating immigration laws, with the group arriving in Dhaka on a special flight early on Thursday.

The returnees landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard an Omni Air charter flight (OAE2323), according to airport sources.

Officials said the individuals had left Bangladesh at different times from 2014 onwards on work permit visas in search of better employment opportunities. They later travelled through several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Brazil and Peru, before entering the United States illegally by crossing international borders.

Although they were employed by various organisations in the US, they failed to meet the country's legal immigration requirements, officials said. They were subsequently detained by the US immigration authorities for violating immigration laws.

Following the completion of legal procedures, the group was deported to Bangladesh on a special repatriation flight.

On arrival at Dhaka airport, non-governmental organisation BRAC provided each returnee with Tk5,000 in financial assistance and light refreshments.

After completing immigration clearance and other formalities, the deportees left the airport at around 1:30pm.

The latest deportation comes amid continued enforcement of US immigration laws under the Trump administration, which has resulted in the repatriation of foreign nationals found to be in violation of immigration regulations.

Officials have urged Bangladeshis seeking employment abroad to use legal migration channels and comply with the immigration laws of their destination countries.