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, 2017
New 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.[…]
Read the full article:
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."[...]
Read the transcript or watch the segment:
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