For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020

***PRESS ADVISORY***

On Thursday, Jan. 23, Ravi Ragbir, Executive Director of the New Sanctuary Coalition, will be attending his supervision appointment with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency continues to target Ravi for his activism, as part of a nationwide pattern and practice of targeting activist leaders. A federal court stay of removal prevents ICE from deporting him.

Supporters, including elected officials, will gather to speak out against ICE’s harassment of our communities and its targeting of our leaders. We will honor those leaders who have already been deported, and we will continue to fight to dismantle this system.

What: Solidarity Action for Ravi Ragbir at his ICE check-in including a rally with speakers and a silent Jericho March vigil

Where: Foley Square (Pearl & Centre St) and 26 Federal Plaza, Lower Manhattan

When: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020

• 8:30am – Solidarity Rally at Foley Square

• 9:30am – Jericho Walk around 26 Federal Plaza while Ravi reports to ICE

Speakers:

• Ravi Ragbir, New Sanctuary Coalition

• Kyle Bragg, President 32BJ SEIU

• Congressional Representative Yvette Clark

• New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm

• Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

• Reverend Kaji Dousa, Park Avenue Christian Church

• Congressional Representative Adriano Espaillat

• Rev. Donna Schaper, Judson Memorial Church

• Former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito

• New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca

• New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodríguez

• Immigrant rights activist Marco Savaadra

• New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer

• Congressional Representative Nydia Velazquez

• Public Advocate Jumaane Williams

Audio: Brief statements by speakers, prayers, chanting, etc.

Visuals: Supporters with posters outside immigration court building, silent march around federal building

Background: Ragbir came to the U.S. as a greencard holder but now faces the double punishment of deportation based on a single fraud conviction he received almost twenty years ago. He was given a final order of deportation in 2007 but was placed on an order of supervision in 2008, allowing him to live and work in the U.S. During that time, he became active in the immigrant rights movement, and paid the price for that activism when ICE detained him on Jan. 11, 2018, and tried to deport him. A federal appeals court has recognized that the First Amendment protects immigrants from retaliation for their protected political speech and has issued a temporary stay of Mr. Ragbir’s deportation. The government is deciding whether to appeal the decision.