An Indonesian man who has been seeking asylum in the United States was deported Thursday by immigration officials.

Arino Massie was one of four ethnic Chinese Christians from Indonesia who escaped to New Jersey in the 1990s to avoid religious persecution.

Massie and three others were detained by ICE 10 days ago and were being held in an Elizabeth detention center. Massie was put on a plane back to Jakarta Thursday morning.

Massie’s attorney argued that once back in Jakarta, Massie’s life could be at risk.

“Arino’s airplane is landing in Japan before he goes to Jakarta, so it’s not too late for the president of the United States to reach out to his officials and make a change in plans for Arino,” says advocate Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale.

Massie has a 13-year-old son who is a U.S. citizen. Massie’s attorney argues that the deportation would break the family apart.