The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed on Wednesday that immigration authorities were unaware of a federal court order halting the deportation of Chanthila “Shawn” Souvannarath, a 44-year-old Alabama resident, until after he had already been sent to Laos. Souvannarath, who claims U.S. citizenship, was deported on Friday, a day after U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick issued a temporary restraining order to prevent his removal. The judge had cited a ‘substantial claim of U.S. citizenship’ as the basis for the order. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the order ‘was not served’ to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until after the deportation had occurred, dismissing allegations of procedural violations. Souvannarath, born in a Thai refugee camp, has lived most of his life in the U.S. and was granted lawful permanent residency before his first birthday. His father, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Laos, is the basis for his citizenship claim. Souvannarath was taken into ICE custody in June following an annual immigration check-in. McLaughlin emphasized that Souvannarath had lost his green card in 2006 due to convictions for assault and unlawful firearm possession, asserting he ‘had no right to be in this country.’ His wife, Beatrice, described him as a hardworking father who had stayed out of trouble since his legal issues two decades ago. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing Souvannarath, has called for his immediate return to the U.S., labeling the deportation ‘unlawful.’ This case highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary over immigration enforcement, including previous instances of U.S. citizens being wrongfully deported.
Judge’s order blocking removal of man from US wasn’t received until after he was deported, DHS says
