Student visa holder self-deports after ICE detention, leaves U.S. citizen wife behind
Feb 26, 2026·Location: Bloomington-Normal, IL
Country of origin: Bangladesh

Joytu Chowdhury, a 24-year-old former student at Illinois Wesleyan University from Bangladesh, was arrested by ICE in December 2025 after his F-1 student visa status lapsed due to transfer-related administrative issues. After months in immigration detention across multiple facilities in Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana, Chowdhury alleged inhumane conditions including inadequate medical care and severe mental stress; DHS disputed these claims. He self-deported and returned to Bangladesh in February 2026, leaving behind his U.S. citizen wife. Chowdhury stated that detention conditions forced him to abandon his legal fight and accept voluntary departure.
Sources
- Student visa holder self-deports after "inhumane" ICE conditions
Newsweek·Apr 15, 2026·archived copy
- Scholar self-deports from US after months in ICE detention: 'I felt utterly damaged'
urallnews.com·Apr 20, 2026·archived copy
- BloNo residents taken by ICE, including IWU student – The Argus
- Student Visa Holder Self-Deports After ‘Inhumane’ ICE Conditions - Volk News
volknews.com·Apr 17, 2026·archived copy
- Bangladeshi Student Leaves U.S. After Detention, Returns Home Amid Visa and Legal Troubles
ethnicjournal.com·Apr 21, 2026·archived copy
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