Bangladeshi student Joytu Chowdhury deports himself from the United States after Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him in “inhumane” conditions for two months.
Joyto Chowdhury, a 24-year-old Bangladeshi student in Illinois who was arrested by ICE after his student visa was revoked, said he chose to self-deport from the United States because of inhumane conditions in ICE detention centers.
At first, he said he was determined to fight the case against him and reunite with his wife, a US citizen, but then he said he reached a point where he felt completely broken and exhausted. He has now returned to Bangladesh although a fundraising campaign has been set up to bring him back to the US. “At first, I was determined to plead my case and hold on to the life I had built. I didn’t want to give up. But over time, being in that environment had a huge impact on me mentally and emotionally,” Choudhary told Newsweek.
“I got to a point where I felt completely broken, exhausted, overwhelmed and unsure about everything. In the end, I gave up and chose to self-deport, not because I wanted to, but because I felt like I no longer had any other choice.
“In many ways, it seemed like this was what the regime was pushing people toward, to wear them down so they couldn’t fight anymore.”
Who is Joytu Chowdhury? Why did he leave by himself?
Self-deportation is when an individual decides to leave the United States on their own without any removal order from the court.
The Donald Trump administration encourages this and offers money to those who choose to. Chowdhury came to the United States on an F-1 student visa in 2021 to study at Illinois Wesleyan University, majoring in finance with a minor in computer science. In August 2025, his visa status was terminated. He also had a DUI (driving under the influence) and retail theft case.
Expressing regret over the past cases, Chaudhry said his status was canceled due to moving between schools.
On December 3, 2025, ICE agents arrested him and his ordeal began. It was transported through a series of facilities across multiple states. He said conditions inside ICE facilities are extremely inhumane and lack proper health care. He said he had not received a refund for the return ticket he had to arrange.
What did the Department of Homeland Security say?
The Department of Homeland Security denied all of the allegations, telling Newsweek that the detention centers have comprehensive medical facilities and basic standards.
Regarding the issuance of the ticket, the Department of Homeland Security said that he had arranged a ticket for which he lacked the passport required to transit through Dubai under Emirates policy. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it purchased a ticket for Choudhary that did not require a passport for February 25, 2026, and it did not cost him anything, so there was no question of getting any money back.
“He is now trying to survive in Bangladesh, where the ongoing political unrest has made daily life unstable and made finding work very difficult,” said fundraiser Joyto, who is seeking legal funds. “In the midst of this uncertainty, he is doing everything he can to remain optimistic, stay afloat, and keep moving forward.” It was created by Mary Elledge, who knows Choudhury and his wife through the pickleball community. Chowdhury’s wife Ashley Yamelette is a 24-year-old student and an American citizen.
