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October 29, 2025

Chanthila "Shawn" Souvannarath Deported to Laos Despite Court Order Blocking His Removal
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In more immigration news, a father from Laos has been deported despite a
federal court order blocking his removal to a country he's never been to
in his life. Chanthila "Shawn" Souvannarath lived in Alabama; his wife
and two children are in the U.S. According to court filings, he was born
in a refugee camp in Thailand and was granted lawful permanent residence
in the U.S. before he turned 1 year old. He was detained by ICE in June
in front of his two younger children during an annual immigration
check-in, according to his wife. Souvannarath's father is a naturalized
U.S. citizen, which would allow him to claim citizenship, as well. In a
letter from detention, Souvannarath wrote, "I continuously lived in the
United States since infancy, and I have always considered myself an
American citizen."


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