JIM MUSTIAN and JACK BROOK.

Immigration authorities say they did not receive word of a court order blocking the removal of an Alabama father until after he had been deported to Laos. But the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday that Chanthila Souvannarath’s deportation was unlawful and asked a federal judge to order his return to the United States. The 44-year-old was born in Thailand but has spent most of his life in the U.S., checking in regularly with immigration authorities. He most recently lived in Alabama and was taken into custody in June. The case highlights ongoing tensions between immigration authorities and the courts.

U.S. immigration officials have deported a man to Laos despite a federal court order blocking his removal. The man’s attorneys said Tuesday the deportation came after a judge ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to keep Chanthila Souvannarath in the U.S. while he presented his claim of citizenship. Souvannarath was born in a refugee camp in Thailand but has lived in the U.S. since infancy. His father is a naturalized citizen. The ACLU of Louisiana criticized ICE for acting against the court order. It emphasized the need for legal representation for all immigrants.