Joytu Chowdhury, a 24-year-old Bangladeshi student in Illinois who was arrested by ICE after his student visa was revoked, said he chose to self-deport from the United States due to inhumane conditions in ICE detention centers. Initially, he said he was determined to fight his case and reunite with his U.S. citizen wife, but later said he felt completely devastated and overwhelmed. Now he’s back in Bangladesh, although a fundraiser has been organized to bring him back to the United States. “In the beginning, 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,” Chaudhry told Newsweek. “I felt completely broken – exhausted, overwhelmed and unsure of everything. Eventually, I gave up and self-deported, not because I wanted to but because I felt I had no choice. In a lot of ways, it feels like that’s where the system is pushing people – wearing them down until they can’t keep fighting anymore. “
Who is Joytu Chowdhury? Why did he banish himself?
Self-deportation is when a person decides to leave the United States on their own without any deportation order from a court. Donald Trump’s administration encourages this and provides funding to those who choose to do so. Chowdhury came to the United States on an F-1 student visa in 2021 and studied at Illinois Wesleyan University, majoring in finance and minoring in computer science. In August 2025, his visa status was terminated. He also has experience with driving under the influence (DUI) and retail theft. Chaudhry expressed regret over the past case, saying his status was revoked due to a transfer of schools. His ordeal began on December 3, 2025, when he was arrested by ICE agents. He was transferred to a series of facilities in multiple states. He said conditions inside ICE facilities are extremely inhumane and lack proper medical care. He said he had to arrange a return ticket but was not given a refund.
What did the Department of Homeland Security say?
The Department of Homeland Security dismissed all charges and told Newsweek that its detention centers have adequate medical facilities and basic standards. Regarding the ticket issue, DHS said he arranged for a ticket, but he did not have the passport required to transit through Dubai in accordance with Emirates policy. ICE said it purchased a ticket for Chaudhry that did not require a passport on February 25, 2026, and it did not cost him anything, so there was no refund issue. “Now he is trying to survive in Bangladesh, where ongoing political unrest has made daily life unstable and work extremely hard to find. In the midst of this uncertainty, he is doing everything he can to stay hopeful, stay afloat and keep moving forward,” said Joytu’s fundraiser seeking legal funding. It was created by Marie Eledge, who met Chaudhry and his wife through the pickleball community. Chaudhry’s wife, Ashley Yamilet, is a 24-year-old student and U.S. citizen.