NEW ORLEANS — Immigration authorities didn’t obtain phrase of a courtroom order blocking the elimination of a person residing in Alabama till after he had been deported to Laos, the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety stated Wednesday, dismissing claims that officers violated the order.

Chanthila “Shawn” Souvannarath, 44, was deported on Friday, in accordance with his attorneys, a day after a federal decide in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to maintain him within the nation in order that he might current what the decide referred to as a “substantial declare of U.S. citizenship.”

Souvannarath was born in a refugee camp in Thailand however has lived most of his life within the U.S. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated the decide’s order protecting him within the nation “was not served” to ICE till after Souvannarath had been deported.

“To the media’s chagrin, there was no mistake,” McLaughlin stated in an announcement.

DHS and ICE didn’t reply to questions from The Related Press looking for extra particulars on the timeline and the way officers obtain federal courtroom orders.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Souvannarath, requested U.S. District Choose Shelly Dick to order his fast return to the U.S., calling the deportation “illegal.”

“ICE has acted in direct opposition to a federal courtroom order, which ought to disturb everybody,” stated Nora Ahmed, authorized director of the ACLU of Louisiana.

The deportation comes as Trump administration officers have repeatedly clashed with the courts over their makes an attempt to deport giant numbers of immigrants. There have been earlier instances of U.S. residents being deported, together with U.S.-born youngsters.

Souvannarath most lately lived in Arab, Alabama. Court docket information present he was granted lawful everlasting residence within the U.S. earlier than his first birthday. His father, a local of Laos, is a naturalized U.S. citizen, and Souvannarath claims his citizenship derives from that standing.

Souvannarath was taken into ICE custody in June following an annual check-in with immigration authorities. Two of his 5 youngsters have been with him when he was detained, his spouse instructed the AP.

McLaughlin stated Souvannarath “misplaced his inexperienced card” and was ordered to be deported in 2006 following convictions for “heinous crimes” — assault and illegal possession of a firearm — and “had no proper to be on this nation.” It was not clear why Souvannarath was not beforehand taken into ICE custody.

In 2004, Souvannarath was convicted of illegal firearm possession and assault towards his then-girlfriend in King County, Washington. He had additionally been convicted of a misdemeanor assault towards the identical lady a number of years earlier than, courtroom information present.

“20 years later, he tried a Hail Mary try to stay in our nation by claiming he was a U.S. citizen,” McLaughlin wrote in her assertion. “I do know its surprising to the media — however felony unlawful aliens lie on a regular basis.”

Souvannarath’s spouse, Beatrice, described him as a tough employee and loving father who stayed out of bother since his run-ins with the legislation twenty years in the past. He is largely labored putting in air conditioners and heaters, she stated. “He does not even drink,” she stated.

His spouse stated she acquired phrase final week that he was being deported and, days later, that he was in custody in Laos, a rustic he had not beforehand visited.

Representing himself in courtroom, Souvannarath filed an emergency movement looking for to halt his deportation. The decide, appointed by President Barack Obama, cited the “irreparable hurt that may be attributable to fast deportation” in issuing a short lived restraining order pausing the deportation for 14 days.

Earlier than his deportation, Souvannarath had been detained at a newly opened ICE facility on the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

__ Mustian reported from New York. Related Press reporter Cedar Attanasio contributed from Seattle, Washington.