Chanthila Souvannarath
Synopsis
Chanthila Souvannarath is a man with claims to U.S. citizenship spanning more than 20 years who was unlawfully deported to Laos in October 2025 after ICE defied a federal court order, according to a joint press release from the ACLU of Louisiana, the National Immigration Project (NIPNLG), and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. Souvannarath was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and entered the United States before his first birthday, receiving lawful permanent residence. Advocates say he became a U.S. citizen as a minor when his father naturalized and gained sole custody of him, meeting the requirements for derivative citizenship under immigration law at the time. ICE detained Souvannarath on June 18, 2025, and held him at Camp 57 inside Louisiana's Angola prison — a maximum-security facility on the grounds of a former slave plantation. While detained, Souvannarath filed a habeas petition pro se seeking recognition of his citizenship and immediate release. On October 23, 2025, Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana issued a temporary restraining order explicitly prohibiting ICE from removing Souvannarath from the United States. ICE deported him to Laos anyway on Friday, October 24, 2025, according to NIPNLG and partner organizations. Alanah Odoms, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, called the removal a deportation of someone with "strong claims to American citizenship" and said the administration had shown it would "ignore the courts, ignore the Constitution and ignore the law." Nora Ahmed, ACLU of Louisiana legal director, said the case raised urgent questions about how many other people — potentially including U.S. citizens — have been wrongfully deported without legal representation. Bridget Pranzatelli of the National Immigration Project said ICE "defied a federal court order" and called for Souvannarath's immediate return. The ACLU of Louisiana, RFK Human Rights, and NIPNLG said they were exploring all legal options to secure his return and hold ICE accountable. TIMELINE June 18, 2025 — ICE detains Souvannarath; he is held at Camp 57 in Angola, Louisiana (NIPNLG, ACLU of Louisiana). 2025 — Souvannarath files habeas petition pro se while in detention, asserting derivative U.S. citizenship (NIPNLG). October 23, 2025 — Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick issues temporary restraining order barring his removal (NIPNLG). October 24, 2025 — ICE deports Souvannarath to Laos despite the court order (NIPNLG, ACLU of Louisiana). October 29, 2025 — ACLU of Louisiana, NIPNLG, and RFK Human Rights issue joint press release condemning the removal. This profile summarizes published reporting; legal status and location may change.
Key takeaways
From court records, news reporting, and linked sources below.
- Chanthila Souvannarath has claims to U.S. citizenship for more than 20 years, including derivative citizenship through his naturalized father, according to ACLU of Louisiana and NIPNLG.
- He was detained June 18, 2025, at Camp 57 inside Louisiana's Angola prison ICE facility.
- Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick issued a temporary restraining order on October 23, 2025, explicitly prohibiting his removal.
- ICE deported him to Laos on October 24, 2025, anyway — a flagrant violation of the court order, advocates said.
- Souvannarath filed his habeas petition while representing himself in detention; partner organizations called for his immediate return.
Reference links
Related
Detention facility
Louisiana ICE Processing Center→