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| Photo: Democracy Now! |
U.S. immigration authorities maintained a stay of removal for New Sanctuary Coalition organizer Ravi Ragbir today as local politicians and hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Federal Building in New York City. But the activist needs to check in again next month in order to get travel papers.
It seems ICE wasn’t happy with the publicity. Reporters and photographers tried to follow Ragbir to the building to get a picture of the popular organizer as he entered the ICE offices, but federal security officers refused to let Ragbir or any other immigrant in until everyone with a camera had backed away.—TPOI editor
Prominent Trinidadian Immigrant Activist Staves Off Deportation—For Now
By Madina Toure, Observer
March 9, 2017New York City pols rallied outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New York City office ahead of a prominent Trinidadian-born immigrant activist’s annual check-in—a meeting in which he feared, but ultimately escaped, getting deported to his native land.
Dozens of advocates and elected officials joined Ravi Ragbir, an organizer for the New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC—a an interfaith organization that helps undocumented individuals fight detention and deportation—near the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in Lower Manhattan before his yearly conference with authorities.[…]
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Exclusive: Facing Possible Deportation, Immigrant Activist Ravi Ragbir Speaks Out Before ICE Check-in
Democracy Now!
March 9, 2017
UPDATE: Ravi Ragbir was released after his ICE check-in after arriving at the meeting surrounded by hundreds of supporters. Watch live coverage on our Facebook page
One of New York’s best-known immigrant rights advocates joins us on what might be his last day as a free man in the United States. Ravi Ragbir is executive director of the New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City. This morning, right after our broadcast, Ravi heads for a check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He plans to go to the meeting, even though he may not be released.
Ravi legally immigrated to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago more than 25 years ago, but a 2001 wire fraud conviction made his green card subject to review. Even though he is married to a U.S. citizen and has a U.S-born daughter, the government refuses to normalize his status. Just last month, Ravi was recognized with the Immigrant Excellence Award by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, given to those who show "deep commitment to the enhancement of their community."[...]
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