NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Immigration officials have deported a father living in Alabama to Laos despite a federal court order blocking his removal from the U.S. on the grounds he has a claim to citizenship, the man’s attorneys said.
U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick last week ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to keep Chanthila “Shawn” Souvannarath, 44, in the United States while he presented what the judge called his “substantial claim of U.S. citizenship,” court records show. He was born in a refugee camp in Thailand but was granted lawful permanent residence in the U.S. before his first birthday, according to court filings.
But Souvannarath on Sunday messaged his wife on WhatsApp and told her he was in Dongmakkhai, Laos, according to a screenshot she shared with The Associated Press. The message ends with “love y’all.”
“It is very unfortunate, especially for the children that we have together,” Beatrice Souvannarath told AP.
The ACLU of Louisiana, which is representing Souvannarath, called the deportation a “stunning violation of a federal court order.” Before his deportation, Souvannarath had been detained at a newly opened ICE facility at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
“ICE just ignored a federal court order and tore yet another family apart,” said Alanah Odoms, executive director for the ACLU of Louisiana, in a statement. “This administration has shown it will ignore the courts, ignore the Constitution, and ignore the law to pursue its mass deportation agenda, even if it means destroying the lives of American citizens.”
The deportation comes as officials have repeatedly clashed with the courts over attempts to deport large numbers of immigrants. There have been previous instances of U.S. citizens being deported.
Chanthila Souvannarath was taken into ICE custody in June following an annual check-in with immigration authorities in Alabama, where he had been living. His wife stated that his detention was incredibly difficult for their family.
Souvannarath spent much of his childhood living with his parents in the U.S., claiming citizenship through his father, a naturalized citizen. He communicated in a letter from detention that he has always considered himself an American citizen.
Despite filing an emergency motion to delay his deportation, immigration officials proceeded with his removal. Judge Dick expressed concern that deporting Souvannarath would hinder his ability to litigate his case effectively.
As the case develops, the implications for Souvannarath's family and ongoing discussions about immigration policies continue to be a pressing issue.
