Immigration officials have deported Chanthila “Shawn” Souvannarath—a father residing in Alabama—back to Laos, despite a federal court order that blocked his removal based on his claim to U.S. citizenship, according to statements from his legal representatives.

U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick had previously ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to keep Souvannarath, 44, in the country while he pursued what she described as a “substantial claim of U.S. citizenship.” Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Souvannarath was granted lawful permanent residency in the United States before turning one year old, court records indicate.

However, on Sunday, Souvannarath communicated with his wife via WhatsApp, informing her that he was in Dongmakkhai, Laos. He concluded the message with a heartfelt, “love y’all,” as shared by his wife with News.

“It is very unfortunate, especially for the children that we have together,” expressed Beatrice Souvannarath in her conversation with News.

Attempts to contact ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through emails, calls, and text messages went unanswered.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Louisiana, which is representing Souvannarath, condemned the deportation as a “stunning violation of a federal court order.” Prior to his deportation, Souvannarath had been detained at a newly established ICE facility within the Louisiana state penitentiary in Angola.

“ICE just ignored a federal court order and tore yet another family apart,” said Alanah Odoms, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, in a statement. “This administration has shown it will ignore the courts, the Constitution, and the law to advance its mass deportation agenda, even if it means destroying the lives of American citizens.”

This incident follows a pattern of conflicts between Trump administration officials and the judiciary regarding efforts to deport significant numbers of immigrants. There have been previous reported cases of U.S. citizens facing deportation, including American-born children.

Souvannarath entered ICE custody in June after an annual immigration check-in in Alabama, where he had been residing, according to his wife. “When he went to check in, they detained him. Our two younger kids were with him,” she recounted. “It was the hardest two months of my life.”

Throughout his childhood, Souvannarath lived with his parents in Hawaii, Washington state, and California. His father, originally from Laos, is a naturalized U.S. citizen, and Souvannarath asserts that his citizenship claims derive from that status.

“I continuously lived in the United States since infancy,” Souvannarath wrote from immigration detention, asserting that he has always considered himself an American citizen.

Following his deportation, Souvannarath filed an emergency motion to delay the action. Judge Dick issued a temporary restraining order last Thursday, highlighting the “irreparable harm that would result from immediate deportation.”

“While the government has a vested interest in enforcing its immigration laws, the potential removal of a U.S. citizen weighs heavily against the public interest,” Judge Dick stated, noting that Souvannarath would be “unable to effectively litigate his case from Laos.”

As of the latest court records, there have been no changes to Souvannarath’s case since the judge’s restraining order, which is set to expire on November 6. Through her office, Judge Dick declined to provide further comment.