Bangladeshi student Joytu Chaudhary has turned himself in to deportation from the US after being detained by ICE for two months in ‘inhumane’ conditions.

Joytu Chaudhary, a 24-year-old Bangladeshi student in Illinois who was arrested by ICE after his student visa was revoked, said he chose to self-deport from the US because of the inhumane conditions of ICE detention centers. Initially, he said he was determined to fight the case against him and reunite with his American citizen wife, but then he said he reached a point where he felt completely heartbroken and overwhelmed. He is now back in Bangladesh, although a fundraising event has been organized to bring him back to the US. “At first, I was determined to fight my case and keep the life I had built. I didn’t want to give up. But over time, living in that environment took a serious toll on me mentally and emotionally,” Chaudhary said. newsweek. “I reached a point where I felt completely broken – tired, overwhelmed and unsure of everything. Eventually, I gave up and decided to self-exile, not because I wanted to but because I felt like I had no other option. In many ways, it felt like that’s what the system pushes people towards – to wear them out until they can’t keep fighting anymore.”

Who is Joytu Chaudhary? Why did he self-exile?

Self-deportation occurs when a person decides to leave the US on their own free will without any deportation order from a court. The Donald Trump administration is encouraging it and offering money to those who choose this path. Chaudhary came to the United States on an F-1 student visa in 2021 to study at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he majored in finance with a minor in computer science. His visa status was terminated in August 2025. He was also charged with DUI (driving under the influence) and retail theft. Expressing regret over previous cases, Chaudhary said his status was revoked due to transfer between schools. On December 3, 2025, he was arrested by ICE agents and his ordeal began. He was transferred through a series of facilities in several states. He said conditions inside ICE facilities are extremely inhumane and lack proper health care. He said he did not receive a refund for his return ticket which he had to arrange.

What did DHS say?

DHS rejected all allegations and told Newsweek that its detention centers have extensive medical facilities and basic standards. On the issue of the ticket, DHS said that Choudhary arranged a ticket for which he did not have the passport required for transit through Dubai under Emirates Airlines’ policy. ICE said it had purchased a ticket for Chaudhary for February 25, 2026, which did not require a passport and did not cost him anything, so there was no question of any refund. “Now he is trying to survive in Bangladesh, where the ongoing political turmoil has destabilized daily life and finding work has become extremely difficult. Amidst this uncertainty, he is doing everything he can to remain optimistic, move ahead and carry on,” said the fundraiser, who does freelance work for Choudhary, who is seeking legal aid from Joytu. It was founded by one Mary Elledge who knew Choudhary and his wife through the pickleball community. Chaudhary’s wife Ashley Yamilet is a 24-year-old student and American citizen.