NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Immigration authorities did not receive word of a court order blocking the removal of Chanthila Shawn Souvannarath until after he had been deported to Laos, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This development has sparked a significant backlash regarding the adherence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to federal court orders.
Souvannarath, aged 44, faced deportation on Friday, shortly after a federal judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, instructed ICE to refrain from his removal while he presented his claim of U.S. citizenship. The judge described the claim as substantial. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Souvannarath has lived most of his life in the United States. According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the judge's order was not communicated to ICE until after his deportation had already occurred. To the media’s chagrin, there was no mistake, McLaughlin said in a statement.
Despite inquiries from The Associated Press, DHS and ICE provided no detailed response regarding the timeline and procedures for receiving federal court orders. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing Souvannarath, has urged U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick to mandate his immediate return to the U.S., describing the deportation as unlawful. Legal Director Nora Ahmed emphasized that this incident illustrates a profound issue—ICE acting in direct opposition to a federal court order.
This situation unfolds amidst a backdrop of tension between the Trump administration and the courts over enforcement policies, with previous instances noted where U.S. citizens have faced similar deportations. Souvannarath currently claims that his citizenship arises from the naturalized status of his father, a U.S. citizen originally from Laos.
In June, Souvannarath was taken into ICE custody following a routine check-in with immigration authorities. His wife indicated that two of their five children were with him during his detention. McLaughlin noted that Souvannarath had lost his green card in 2006 due to convictions for serious crimes, thus lacking the right to remain in the U.S.
His wife, Beatrice, portrayed him as a devoted father and hard worker who had provided for his family by installing air conditioning and heating systems, asserting that he has remained trouble-free since his past legal issues. She expressed distress over his recent deportation, conveying that she was informed only after he had already been sent to Laos, a country he had not visited before. In response to the judge's order for a temporary pause on his deportation for a 14-day period, Souvannarath attempted to file an emergency motion but found himself already removed.
The complexities of Souvannarath’s case highlight critical issues related to immigration enforcement and its implications for individuals caught in the judicial and procedural crossfire, raising broader questions about the nature of justice and legality in immigration practices.
