Immigrant Advocate Detentions Amount to Psychological Warfare

The Associated Press is reporting that Ravi Ragbir, a Trinidad and Tobago native, was recently released from immigration detention by federal court order. Ragbir maintains that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have targeted immigration activists such as himself in recent months; Ragbir leads the New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City, a coalition of faith-based pro-immigration groups in the area. The federal judge ordered Ragbir released on the basis that his detention was unnecessarily cruel, in that he did not have sufficient time to say goodbye to his family before being detained. She also called the allegations that Ragbir was targeted for his political activism very concerning. ICE, however, denies that it targets undocumented immigrants for their political activities. ICE continues to maintain through its public spokesperson that they targeting undocumented immigrants who pose a threat to national security and public safety, or those with criminal records, rather than targeting those based on political activism. As for Ragbir, ICE considers him to be an aggravated felon, whom they took into custody at a routine check-in. Ragbir previously spend 30 months in prison for wire fraud. Ragbir’s arrest comes in wake of the arrest and deportation of another New Sanctuary Coalition leader, Haitian native Jean Montrevil, who received an 11-year sentence for selling cocaine. ICE allegedly has targeted other immigration activists and their immediate family members in Washington and Colorado. These arrests have continued amidst steadily rising tensions between immigrant-rights activists and the Trump administration. Tension also have arisen as governing officials in California, New York, and Washington have discouraged businesses and local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE. As you fight for your rights while detained or during deportation proceedings, we are dedicated to providing you with the essential legal advice that you need in this situation. We are here to represent your interests before the immigration court and appeal any adverse decisions, if warranted. We devote all of our efforts to advocating on behalf of you and your family before the immigration court. Don’t hesitate to contact the Bay Area immigration lawyers of Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., and set up your legal consultation today. We are here to help.