The United States has revoked the visa of a Bangladeshi student and taken her into custody following her involvement in a protest against Israeli actions in Gaza. In a separate incident, another Bangladeshi student was arrested despite a prior theft case already being resolved.
Moin Chowdhury, a New York-based immigration attorney, stated that efforts are currently ongoing to secure the release of the detained student who protested.
He also mentioned that another university student had been caught shoplifting items worth $70 from a store a few months ago.
“In that petty theft case, the student pleaded guilty, and the court had closed the matter. Nevertheless, he was arrested last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had his visa revoked, and was transferred to a detention centre for deportation to Bangladesh,” Chowdhury explained.
Meanwhile, nearly a dozen Bangladeshi nationals were recently denied entry and sent back from JFK Airport in New York after failing to give what customs officers deemed satisfactory responses. The group included both green card holders and individuals arriving on family-based immigrant visas.
In light of these incidents, Moin Chowdhury, who also serves as director of the American International Bar Association, urged those returning to or entering the U.S. on immigrant visas to ensure they are well-prepared.
“Green card holders who don’t spend the majority of the year residing in the U.S. are being questioned at the airports. In several recent cases, people were only allowed to enter after signing affidavits. The message is clear: if you spend more than 10 months a year outside the country, your green card status is at risk,” he cautioned.
AOC Vows Support for Bangladeshi Community
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents New York’s 14th Congressional District — home to a large Bangladeshi population — met with members of the Bangladeshi immigrant community on Thursday to listen to their concerns and provide reassurance amid the Trump-era anti-immigration measures still affecting many.
During the meeting, she discussed the community’s challenges with Shahjahan Sheikh, chair of the Immigration Committee of the Bronx Community Board.
The congresswoman assured attendees that her office is open for immediate assistance and emphasized that her district office — led by Bangladeshi-American Director Noureen Akhter — remains dedicated to handling immigration-related issues.
Speaking to bdnews24.com after the event, Shahjahan said, “It’s not just undocumented individuals — many green card holders are now living in fear due to the raids. In the name of targeting undocumented immigrants, authorities are questioning anyone they come across. If the answers aren’t deemed satisfactory, they’re being arrested.”
