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Photos by ERIK MCGREGOR PHOTOGRAPHY

 More information about hearing here.

When and Where:  Tuesday, August 14, 2018

• 10:00 a.m. Hearing at Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, Manhattan, NY (observers are encouraged to arrive at at 9:00 a.m. to get through security.)
• 11:00 a.m. Press Conference and Rally at Foley Square, Manhattan, NY, near 26 Federal Plaza

New York, NY: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will hear oral arguments in Ragbir v. Homan, a First Amendment lawsuit filed against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for its use of deportation and enforcement measures to “disappear” or silence its critics, namely directly-affected immigrant leaders who speak out against the agency’s policies and the deportation machine. The lawsuit was filed by nationally recognized immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir, along with immigrant rights organizations New Sanctuary Coalition, CASA, Detention Watch Network, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, and the New York Immigration Coalition (the “plaintiffs”).

Ragbir v. Homan challenges the unlawful targeting of immigrant rights activists who have spoken out against the federal government’s immigration policies. As part of that lawsuit, plaintiffs sought a “stay of removal” for Ravi Ragbir, Executive Director of the New Sanctuary Coalition , who was abruptly targeted for deportation in January 2018 a decade after he was given an order of supervision to live and work in the U.S.  Mr. Ragbir is one of many outspoken immigrant rights leaders who has been similarly targeted nationwide. A district court denied the plaintiffs the initial protections they sought, including a stay for Mr. Ragbir, concluding that it did not have the power to review the government’s actions. The plaintiffs appealed and now seek a motion for a stay of Mr. Ragbir’s removal from the appellate court.

Community members are invited to listen and observe the plaintiffs’ co-counsel, Arnold & Porter, argue before the Second Circuit why the Court should grant Mr. Ragbir a stay of deportation until ICE can prove that its attempt to deport Mr. Ragbir was not in retaliation for his free speech.  

Following the hearing, immigrant rights leaders, activists, and prominent First Amendment lawyers will denounce the federal government’s attempts to deny immigrants access to federal courts and their first amendment protections. Speakers will include Ravi Ragbir, immigrant and reproductive rights activist Alejandra Pablos, the National Lawyers’ Guild National Immigration Project, the New York Immigration Coalition, and more. Under the U.S. Constitution, everyone in the United States–regardless of immigration status–is entitled to First Amendment rights.

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On Wednesday, May 23^rd, the Honorable Kevin Castel of the Federal District Court of the Southern District of New York denied Mr. Ragbir and others’ request for a preliminary and permanent injunction to prevent ICE from deporting Mr. Ragbir unless ICE could demonstrate that its actions were untainted by unlawful retaliation against Mr. Ragbir for exercising his First Amendment Rights to speak out against the injustices of our immigration system. Judge Castel’s ruling does not foreclose Mr. Ragbir and plaintiff organizations’ additional claims, which aim to vindicate the rights of immigrants who have been targeted by ICE on the basis of their protected speech regarding U.S. immigration law and policy. Judge Castel issued his ruling despite six amici briefs—including from faith leaders, several immigrant rights organizations, and local, state and federal elected officials–detailing the chilling effect that ICE’s targeting of immigrant activists has had on communities nationwide. Plaintiffs intend to appeal Judge Castel’s decision.

Ravi continues to have a stay of deportation pending the outcome of his case in the district court for the Federal District of New Jersey, where he seeks to vacate the underlying conviction which serves as the basis for his removal order because of fundamental errors that occurred during the original proceeding.

On Friday, March 23rd, the Honorable Kevin McNulty of the Federal District Court of New Jersey granted Mr. Ragbir a stay of deportation pending the Court’s consideration of his underlying legal case, a “coram nobis petition” that challenges fundamental errors in his criminal conviction and sentence. In his order, Judge McNulty emphasized the importance of ensuring access to courts for immigrants in pending cases: “The power to stay removal pending decision of a coram nobis petition is constitutionally required, to the extent it is necessary to ensure due process and meaningful access to the courts.” Judge McNulty granted the stay, noting in part the “irreparable harm” Mr. Ragbir would suffer if deported before his case was fully considered.  Judge McNulty’s full opinion can be found here.