ERO Philadelphia removes convicted terrorist to Bangladesh
Convicted terrorist Rakin Islam Chowdhury awaits a flight to Bangladesh.
PHILADELPHIA – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia removed Rakin Islam Chowdhury, a citizen of Bangladesh with a final order of removal, to Bangladesh on Jan. 17. Chowdhury was previously convicted of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
“The removal of convicted terrorist Rakin Islam Chowdhury demonstrates the vast national security responsibilities that are inherent in ERO’s mission,” said ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley. “Our officers work tirelessly to remove threats, enforce the law and safeguard the American public.”
On June 5, 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Protection admitted Chowdhury to the United States in New York, New York, with authorization to remain in the United States for a temporary period not to exceed Dec. 4, 2015.
Special agents with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore arrested Chowdhury at his residence in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Sept. 11, 2016. HSI Baltimore determined his removability during the encounter and transferred him to ERO Baltimore’s custody.
HSI Baltimore served Chowdhury with a notice to appear charging removability in September 2016.
On Jan. 4, 2017, ERO Baltimore transferred Chowdhury to the U.S. Marshals Service for prosecution for attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
On July 30, 2019, the U.S. District Court of the District of Maryland convicted Chowdhury of the crime and sentenced him to 96 months of incarceration and lifetime supervision. The judge also ordered Chowdhury removed from the United States to Bangladesh via a judicial order of removal.
ERO Philadelphia encountered Chowdhury at Allenwood Federal Correctional Institution and lodged an immigration detainer-notice of action with the Bureau of Prisons on Sept. 13, 2019.
On Oct. 13, 2023, ERO Philadelphia assumed custody of Chowdhury upon his release from the prison’s custody and transported him to the Clinton County Correctional Facility in McElhattan, Pennsylvania. Chowdhury remained in ICE custody until his removal to Bangladesh.
ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.
As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border. Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ERO’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROPhiladelphia.
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