Supporter Statements about Ravi’s Presidential Pardon

We are thrilled to announce that Ravi Ragbir has received a presidential pardon. We express our heartfelt gratitude to President Biden for recognizing Ravi’s contributions and advocacy for immigrant communities and granting him a pardon.

We know this victory was made possible because of this incredible community of love, support, and action. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Many of you have accompanied Ravi on this journey for the past sixteen years: attending check-ins, rallies, vigils, Jericho walks, protests, and teach-ins; packing the court; writing letters of support; spreading the word and sharing petitions – endlessly fighting for this day to come. You were there when Ravi was detained in 2018 and you celebrated with us when Ravi was released. You have shared messages and prayers of hope, solidarity, and comfort with Ravi and Amy during the hardest times. So it is our greatest joy to share this victory with all of you.

Ravi and Amy share their deepest thanks:

To all of our friends and loved ones,

We cannot express enough how grateful we are to have had you holding us up through these last many years. We are breathing deeply and freely now, knowing that we can move forward with our lives, we can plan beyond a few weeks ahead, we can fully experience joys and sorrows.

We are still processing what it means to not live in a perpetual limbo, without threats of permanent separation hanging over our heads, but we know that we did not reach this place of peace without each and every one of you.

And we send extra special love and appreciation to all of the people who have served on our defense committee for so many years.

With love and gratitude, Ravi and Amy

***

We know that this incredible news comes at a significant time. We are bracing for the return of the Trump Administration and its promise of mass deportations. We stand in solidarity with our immigrant community. With collective action, anything is possible. As you all have taught us, you can’t deport a movement.

In solidarity,

Ravi’s Defense Committee

Urgent Call to Action Today: Ravi Ragbir’s President Pardon Campaign

Posted on January 14, 2025 by ravidefense

Dear friends,

Thank you all for your solidarity, prayers, and messages as we prepared for Ravi’s check-in, which had been scheduled for yesterday. We remain thankful that the check-in was postponed and that we could spend yesterday encircling Ravi with support in the warmth and comfort of St. Ann’s Church. A special thanks to all the faith leaders and community members who have reached out to Ravi and Amy in their time of need.

While we welcome this chance to breathe, we also know that we only have a short window of time to protect Ravi from what is to come. With less than a week remaining while President Biden is in office, we ask again that you please continue to circulate the petition in support of Ravi’s pardon: https://bit.ly/raviragbir

We know that, together, this community can keep Ravi home. Please watch this video, exemplifying the many ways in which we stand with Ravi.

In solidarity,
Ravi’s Defense Committee

Watch: Congressional Briefing on Immigrant Rights Activists Under Attack

Posted on January 14, 2021 by ravidefense

On January 13, 2021, the New Sanctuary Coalition, the Immigrant Rights Clinic at NYU School of Law, the National Immigrant Justice Center, Migrant Justice, and the Immigrant Justice Network held a panel discussion with targeted leaders of the immigrant rights movement. Clinic students also presented an interactive map highlighting the breadth of the government’s campaign to silence immigrant leaders. With the Biden Administration soon to take office, this moment calls for a public reckoning of our country’s immigration policy. Immigrant voices must be protected and centered in this conversation. The briefing addressed what members of Congress can do to defend and prevent further retaliation against the rights of their constituents and members of the immigrant community.

Also see the English-language transcript here. [Spanish version is in the works.]

Listen and/or download the audio here:

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez Fights for Prominent NY Immigrant Activist Ravi Ragbir

Posted on May 24, 2019 by ravidefense

For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Alex Haurek
May 21, 2019 (202) 225-2361
Velázquez Fights for Prominent NY Immigrant Activist Ravi Ragbir

Introduces Private Bill Protecting NYC Community Advocate from Deportation

Washington, D.C.¬¬ – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has taken legislative action to grant legal status to prominent local immigrant rights advocate, Ravi Ragbir. Last year, after being taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ragbir was ordered released by the Courts, following an outcry from elected officials, advocacy groups and others. Most recently, the 2nd Circuit Court ruled that Ragbir cannot be deported for now because it is possible ICE tried to silence his advocacy by deporting him.

Velázquez’s bill would grant Ragbir legal permanent status and, should he be deported, provide him a legal right to return to the United States. While the 2nd Circuit ruled in Ravi’s favor, he remains in jeopardy should courts rule against him in the future.

“Ravi Ragbir has been a pillar in our community and ICE’s efforts to deport him are cruel and immoral,” said Velázquez. “Not only am I concerned for Ravi from a humanitarian perspective, but ICE’s repeated targeting of him raises serious 1st Amendment concerns and fit a broader pattern of the agency unfairly pursuing those who speak out against the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant policies.”

“I wish to thank Rep. Velázquez for introducing this bill because the immigration system is inhumane and we need to keep families together,” said Ragbir.

Separately, Velázquez has been a leader on immigration issues, authoring the American Promise Act, legislation that would prevent deportation of beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). That measure has been paired with other Democratic efforts to assist DREAMers and is expected to be considered in the House in the next several weeks.

Her legislation to assist Ragbir has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

# # #

One Year Later: Ravi is home but waiting is agony

Posted on January 11, 2019 by ravidefense

By Amy Gottlieb, American Friends Service Committee

Jan. 11, 2019

Exactly a year ago, I sat in a cold conference room as a stone-faced senior official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told my husband Ravi Ragbir that he was being detained. Ravi’s lawyer and I desperately tried to convince the officer not to detain Ravi – there were still legal avenues we were pursuing to prevent his deportation. But the officer just became more aggressive, and Ravi was handcuffed and escorted out.

Continue reading →

Press Release: Rutgers Law School files amicus brief on behalf of law scholars and human rights advocates in support of Ravi Ragbir

Posted on March 7, 2018 by ravidefense

Screen Shot 2018-03-10 at 6.23.01 PMEST FOR RELEASE MARCH 7,2018
The Rutgers Law School International Human Rights Clinic filed an amicus brief on behalf of law scholars and human rights advocates in support of Ravi Ragbir, an immigrants’ rights activist who was recently released from detention after his abrupt and unconstitutional arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). Mr. Ragbir is scheduled to be deported on March 15, 2018.

In its “friend of the court” amicus brief, the Rutgers Clinic argues that international law places great value on “political speech,” including criticizing United States immigration policy, and requires that Mr. Ragbir be allowed to speak without fear of retaliation. The Rutgers Clinic also argues that it is hypocritical for the U.S. to deport Ragbir for speaking about one of the country’s most important public policy issues, while simultaneously criticizing governments around the world for jailing advocates who speak publicly about the need for legal reform. In addition, the Clinic argues that Mr. Ragbir was targeted because of his prominent activism.

“This is a man who is a community leader and poses no threat to anyone. He advocates for legal reform in the most peaceful and constructive manner, and is well within his rights to do so,” said Professor Penny Venetis, Director of the Clinic. “International law protects immigrants in the United States from being retaliated against because of their political speech.”

The International Human Rights Clinic pursues cases and projects in U.S. domestic courts and international tribunals to address civil rights and human rights violations occurring within and beyond U.S. borders. It has litigated cutting-edge cases, including the landmark Hawa Abdi Jama v. United States INS, 22 F. Supp. 2d 353 (D.N.J. 1998), which held that detained immigrants are protected from abuse by international law.

Ragbir is the Executive Director of The New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC, an interfaith network of congregations, organizations, and individuals, who support people resisting detention and deportation. He is married to a Rutgers Law graduate Amy Gottlieb ’96, who is an associate regional director of American Friends Service Committee.

Eight Rutgers Law students from the Clinic contributed to the brief. The new hearing is scheduled for March 15, 2018.

Watch: Ravi’s Sermon at Judson Memorial Church on March 4

Posted on March 5, 2018 by ravidefense

via Judson’s Facebook page:

Continue reading →

On March 4 @ 11am, Ravi Ragbir to Lead Service and Community Solidarity Action at Judson Memorial Church

Posted on March 3, 2018 by ravidefense

PRESS ADVISORY

NEW YORK, NY: In anticipation of the upcoming hearing of his First Amendment case against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ravi Ragbir will give a sermon at Judson Memorial Church and lead a community action. The event will highlight the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow indefinite detention (Jennings v. Rodriguez). Continue reading →