Ravi Ragbir has accompanied thousands of immigrants in New York City at their check-ins with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency known as ICE that oversees undocumented immigration.
Soon he must face his own fateful appointment with ICE.
“The stress and anxiety of not knowing my future will not abate, and I know that I will only get through this with the support of my community, and particularly of the faith leaders who have walked with me for so many years, and have committed to do so throughout this long journey,” Ragbir said.
Ragbir came to the U.S. from Trinidad and Tobago in 1991 in his 20s and became a lawful permanent resident in 1994. After Ragbir was convicted for mortgage fraud and served a 30-month sentence, an immigration judge ordered that he be deported in 2006 without a hearing. Ragbir has been seeking ever since to vacate his felony conviction.
Ragbir spent two years in immigration detention after his time in prison. The experiences, which he describes as “harsh,” led him to work for Families for Freedom, which fights deportation orders.
In 2007, Ragbir co-founded the New Sanctuary Coalition, which partners with Judson Memorial Church in Manhattan’s …