I have a friend to getting to come home she was on a work visa to Malaysia but she lives in New York anyway but they are telling her she needs to have a declartion fee before she can fly back does this seem odd to anyone else.

What is her nationalty?

Scammers use this to ask for $$... if she wants to travel, all she needs are valid passport and visa. No declaration fee.. no other fees.

By the way, who are "they"?