By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
Published Apr 15, 2026 at 10:57 AM EDT
A former international student from Bangladesh told Newsweek he self-deported from the United States after months in immigration detention that he described as "inhumane."
Federal officials dispute his account, saying he was subject to standard enforcement procedures and received appropriate care while in custody.
Joytu Chowdhury, a 24-year-old former student at Illinois Wesleyan University majoring in finance with a minor in computer science, said he self-deported on February 26 after what he described as a prolonged and emotionally taxing immigration process.
Joytu Chowdhury is seen with his wife, Ashley Yamilet. | Courtesy of Joytu Chowdhury
Chowdhury entered the United States on an F-1 student visa in December 2021 and said he was pursuing a path toward completing his studies and continuing legal immigration processes, including potential permanent residency options.
"In August 2025, his student visa status was terminated. Chowdhury's criminal history includes convictions for driving under the influence and retail theft," a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek.
"My visa status was terminated due to transferring between schools, which led to a temporary lapse in maintaining my SEVIS record. I was working to resolve this and return to compliance," Chowdhury told Newsweek.
SEVIS is a federal government database used to track and manage international students' visa status and school enrollment while they are in the United States.
Chowdhury said of his previous convictions: "I take full responsibility for my actions, and I deeply regret those decisions. They do not reflect who I am today or the direction I am committed to moving in. I would also like to respectfully clarify that these matters are still in process and are expected to be resolved/dismissed, so I hope that context can be reflected to ensure an accurate and fair representation."
He said he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on December 3 in Illinois' Bloomington-Normal area while driving to pick up his younger brother from a train station. He added that multiple unmarked vehicles followed him before police activated emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop.
According to Chowdhury, the day of his arrest "turned into one of the most life-changing and traumatic experiences" of his life. He added, "Without warning, my life completely changed."
DHS confirmed the arrest but characterized it as part of routine enforcement operations, saying Chowdhury was subject to removal proceedings.
During his time in custody, Chowdhury was transferred through a series of facilities across multiple states, which he described as frequent and often lacking a clear explanation. He said he was initially taken from Normal, Illinois, to St. Louis before being moved to Ste. Genevieve County Jail, then to Greene County Jail and later to Chase County Detention Center—all in Missouri.
He said he was then transferred to the Broadview ICE Detention Center in Chicago, but during that process, he was redirected to Clay County Detention Center in Indiana because of what he described as miscommunication and lack of coordination. He said he was eventually transferred back to the Broadview facility. Chowdhury said the repeated moves created confusion and instability around his case. He also said he was held for two days in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody, which he attributed to an administrative error.
Chowdhury described conditions inside ICE custody as "extremely difficult" and "inhumane."
He said he was housed in jail environments alongside individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, which he found "terrifying and deeply unsettling." He alleged inconsistent access to drinking water, saying detainees sometimes had to wait extended periods for necessities. He also described food as repetitive and lacking nutritional value and said overcrowded, noisy conditions made it difficult to sleep, with lights often left on and little sense of privacy.
Chowdhury raised particular concerns about medical care, alleging delays in seeing health care staff and a lack of consistent treatment for his ADHD, anxiety and depression. "There were moments where the anxiety and emotional stress felt overwhelming, and there was no real help available," he said.
"It didn't feel like a place meant for people waiting on immigration cases. It felt like punishment," he added.
DHS rejected those characterizations. An agency spokesperson said, "ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons," adding, "It is a long-standing practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody."
"This is the best health care that many aliens have received in their entire lives," the spokesperson said.
Chowdhury said the conditions played a significant role in his decision to leave the country.
"At first, I was determined to fight 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 took a serious toll on me mentally and emotionally," he said.
"I reached a point where I felt completely broken—exhausted, overwhelmed and uncertain about everything. Eventually, I gave up and chose to self-deport, not because I wanted to but because I felt like I had no other choice left. In many ways, it felt like that's what the system pushes people toward—to wear them down until they can't keep fighting anymore."
He also alleged that the process of arranging his departure was disorganized and financially burdensome. Chowdhury said he was required to purchase plane tickets three times because of what he described as repeated miscommunication and scheduling failures, and that he did not receive refunds for those purchases.
DHS disputed that account, saying Chowdhury was instructed to arrange his own travel for voluntary departure in accordance with policy but had not purchased a ticket by February 13.
The agency said that after contacting his wife, who was unable to provide proof of purchase, his attorney later submitted booking information for a February 20 flight. DHS said Chowdhury was then denied boarding on that flight at Chicago O'Hare International Airport because he lacked a passport required for transit through Dubai under Emirates Airlines' policy.
"ICE was able to obtain and purchase a ticket for Mr. Chowdhury that did not require a passport for February 25, 2026, at no cost to himself," a DHS spokesperson said.
"I never received refunds for those tickets," Chowdhury said.
Now in Bangladesh, Chowdhury said he is staying with his family in Chittagong while attempting to rebuild his life.
"Being separated from my wife, from the life we were trying to build together, has been incredibly difficult. There's a constant feeling of uncertainty, of not knowing what comes next, and that weighs on you every single day," Chowdhury said.
His wife, Ashley Yamilet, a 24-year-old student and server in the United States, told Newsweek the experience had heavily affected her.
"This experience with ICE took so much away from me: my family, my sense of stability and the life I had worked so hard to build. It felt like my entire life was put on pause," she said.
Yamilet continued: "On top of trying to manage school, family responsibilities and everything else, it drained me in ways that are hard to explain.
"There's a part of me that's still processing it all—the loss, the separation and the uncertainty that came with it. It's not something you just move on from. It stays with you."
Chowdhury said he continues to hope to return to the United States through proper legal channels. The family is raising money for legal expenses on GoFundMe.
"I didn't just leave a country; I left behind years of hard work, relationships, stability and the life I was building. As someone who came from a difficult background and worked hard to create opportunities, having to walk away from everything felt like losing a part of myself," Chowdhury said.
He added: "I just hope people understand that situations like mine are not just legal cases—they are human stories filled with sacrifice, loss and resilience. Behind every decision, there are real lives being reshaped in ways that are hard to put into words."
Source (Archive)
Immigration Reporter
Published Apr 15, 2026 at 10:57 AM EDT
A former international student from Bangladesh told Newsweek he self-deported from the United States after months in immigration detention that he described as "inhumane."
Federal officials dispute his account, saying he was subject to standard enforcement procedures and received appropriate care while in custody.
Joytu Chowdhury, a 24-year-old former student at Illinois Wesleyan University majoring in finance with a minor in computer science, said he self-deported on February 26 after what he described as a prolonged and emotionally taxing immigration process.
Joytu Chowdhury is seen with his wife, Ashley Yamilet. | Courtesy of Joytu Chowdhury
Chowdhury entered the United States on an F-1 student visa in December 2021 and said he was pursuing a path toward completing his studies and continuing legal immigration processes, including potential permanent residency options.
"In August 2025, his student visa status was terminated. Chowdhury's criminal history includes convictions for driving under the influence and retail theft," a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek.
"My visa status was terminated due to transferring between schools, which led to a temporary lapse in maintaining my SEVIS record. I was working to resolve this and return to compliance," Chowdhury told Newsweek.
SEVIS is a federal government database used to track and manage international students' visa status and school enrollment while they are in the United States.
Chowdhury said of his previous convictions: "I take full responsibility for my actions, and I deeply regret those decisions. They do not reflect who I am today or the direction I am committed to moving in. I would also like to respectfully clarify that these matters are still in process and are expected to be resolved/dismissed, so I hope that context can be reflected to ensure an accurate and fair representation."
He said he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on December 3 in Illinois' Bloomington-Normal area while driving to pick up his younger brother from a train station. He added that multiple unmarked vehicles followed him before police activated emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop.
According to Chowdhury, the day of his arrest "turned into one of the most life-changing and traumatic experiences" of his life. He added, "Without warning, my life completely changed."
DHS confirmed the arrest but characterized it as part of routine enforcement operations, saying Chowdhury was subject to removal proceedings.
During his time in custody, Chowdhury was transferred through a series of facilities across multiple states, which he described as frequent and often lacking a clear explanation. He said he was initially taken from Normal, Illinois, to St. Louis before being moved to Ste. Genevieve County Jail, then to Greene County Jail and later to Chase County Detention Center—all in Missouri.
He said he was then transferred to the Broadview ICE Detention Center in Chicago, but during that process, he was redirected to Clay County Detention Center in Indiana because of what he described as miscommunication and lack of coordination. He said he was eventually transferred back to the Broadview facility. Chowdhury said the repeated moves created confusion and instability around his case. He also said he was held for two days in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody, which he attributed to an administrative error.
Chowdhury described conditions inside ICE custody as "extremely difficult" and "inhumane."
He said he was housed in jail environments alongside individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, which he found "terrifying and deeply unsettling." He alleged inconsistent access to drinking water, saying detainees sometimes had to wait extended periods for necessities. He also described food as repetitive and lacking nutritional value and said overcrowded, noisy conditions made it difficult to sleep, with lights often left on and little sense of privacy.
Chowdhury raised particular concerns about medical care, alleging delays in seeing health care staff and a lack of consistent treatment for his ADHD, anxiety and depression. "There were moments where the anxiety and emotional stress felt overwhelming, and there was no real help available," he said.
"It didn't feel like a place meant for people waiting on immigration cases. It felt like punishment," he added.
DHS rejected those characterizations. An agency spokesperson said, "ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons," adding, "It is a long-standing practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody."
"This is the best health care that many aliens have received in their entire lives," the spokesperson said.
Chowdhury said the conditions played a significant role in his decision to leave the country.
"At first, I was determined to fight 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 took a serious toll on me mentally and emotionally," he said.
"I reached a point where I felt completely broken—exhausted, overwhelmed and uncertain about everything. Eventually, I gave up and chose to self-deport, not because I wanted to but because I felt like I had no other choice left. In many ways, it felt like that's what the system pushes people toward—to wear them down until they can't keep fighting anymore."
He also alleged that the process of arranging his departure was disorganized and financially burdensome. Chowdhury said he was required to purchase plane tickets three times because of what he described as repeated miscommunication and scheduling failures, and that he did not receive refunds for those purchases.
DHS disputed that account, saying Chowdhury was instructed to arrange his own travel for voluntary departure in accordance with policy but had not purchased a ticket by February 13.
The agency said that after contacting his wife, who was unable to provide proof of purchase, his attorney later submitted booking information for a February 20 flight. DHS said Chowdhury was then denied boarding on that flight at Chicago O'Hare International Airport because he lacked a passport required for transit through Dubai under Emirates Airlines' policy.
"ICE was able to obtain and purchase a ticket for Mr. Chowdhury that did not require a passport for February 25, 2026, at no cost to himself," a DHS spokesperson said.
"I never received refunds for those tickets," Chowdhury said.
Now in Bangladesh, Chowdhury said he is staying with his family in Chittagong while attempting to rebuild his life.
"Being separated from my wife, from the life we were trying to build together, has been incredibly difficult. There's a constant feeling of uncertainty, of not knowing what comes next, and that weighs on you every single day," Chowdhury said.
His wife, Ashley Yamilet, a 24-year-old student and server in the United States, told Newsweek the experience had heavily affected her.
"This experience with ICE took so much away from me: my family, my sense of stability and the life I had worked so hard to build. It felt like my entire life was put on pause," she said.
Yamilet continued: "On top of trying to manage school, family responsibilities and everything else, it drained me in ways that are hard to explain.
"There's a part of me that's still processing it all—the loss, the separation and the uncertainty that came with it. It's not something you just move on from. It stays with you."
Chowdhury said he continues to hope to return to the United States through proper legal channels. The family is raising money for legal expenses on GoFundMe.
"I didn't just leave a country; I left behind years of hard work, relationships, stability and the life I was building. As someone who came from a difficult background and worked hard to create opportunities, having to walk away from everything felt like losing a part of myself," Chowdhury said.
He added: "I just hope people understand that situations like mine are not just legal cases—they are human stories filled with sacrifice, loss and resilience. Behind every decision, there are real lives being reshaped in ways that are hard to put into words."
Source (Archive)
