In 2019, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals recognized that the First Amendment prohibits the government from targeting immigration activists for deportation based on their political speech.  To allow ICE to deport activists like Ravi on the basis of their advocacy would have a chilling effect on public speech by other activists, immigrants and US citizens alike.  Ravi's case (more information can be found here - https://theintercept.com/document/2019/04/26/2nd-circuit-court-rules-in-favor-of-ravi-ragbir/) is but one of many examples of government retaliation. As long as ICE, DHS, and other government agencies are able to avoid consequences for violating constitutional rights and norms of basic human decency, they will continue to act with impunity to stamp out dissent. We must step up and act NOW in order to protect our leaders in the fight for justice as well as to safeguard our fundamental right to free speech.

Save my family.

You can stop Frank Barker from being deported. Who is Frank Barker? A father. A grandfather. An uncle, a sibling, a son. A healthcare worker, with degrees in psychology and sociology. A recovering addict, clean for seven years. A volunteer. A formerly incarcerated man putting his life back together. Twice-promoted to manager of Housing at Aligned Services of NYC, ASCNYC. An HIV-positive survivor. A vital part of his community. Frank Barker is many things, but to the Obama administration, he is only a number: one of the eleven million people living in fear of our unjust deportation system. And if we don’t act now, Frank may very well join the over 1000 people deported from their loved ones every single day. Can you help Frank and his family breathe free? Frank needs a temporary stay of removal to delay his deportation. Here’s how you can help: •Write a letter of support using the template below and send it to The New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC; •Sign the petition below; and •Share this request far and wide to help keep Frank with his family. Forty years ago, Frank was brought to the U.S. from the Caribbean at age nine (born in Nevis). Since his arrival, he earned two degrees and has worked in healthcare since 1986, raising a beautiful family: his daughters Kristan and Myah. His grandsons, J’cion and Ja’kei, parents, siblings, and numerous nieces and nephews—all are U.S. citizens; count on Frank for financial, emotional, and spiritual support. Along the way, he’s made mistakes—substance dependence that led to several convictions. He served his time, got clean and is now a better man for it. To make amends and give back to our community, he began volunteering for Aligned Services Centers of NYC (ASCNYC), an organization that cares for sick people without homes. Through his passion and hard work, he was hired, and has since been promoted twice and is now their Housing Placement Manager. In spite of these contributions to our community, ICE locked Frank up for 12 months, only releasing him because they did not want to pay for his health care. Frank is sick—he takes 15 pills a day—and needs to be closely monitored by his doctors to stay alive. A deportation now could very well be a death sentence. It doesn’t have to be. We can keep Frank here, at his job and with his loved ones. Please take action today: write a letter, sign the petition, and share Frank’s story with your friends. Help Frank Barker and his family breathe free.

Rickley is a 24 year old, hardworking young man who has been living in the United States since he was 11 years old. Rickley and his brother Voidette came to the United States to join his mother. Rickley attended high school and has been working in construction since. Voidette, Rickley’s brother, has a disability that limits his opportunity to independently go out and he requires extensive care. Rickley has always been a father figure to Voidette and has been helping his mother with taking care of Voidette. Rickley has two daughters, Emily and Allysi, of 7 and 4 years old who both have American citizenship. Rickley worked in construction in order to help support his family. Rickley has been held in detention since November 2012, and he has only seen Alyssi on one occasion. In June 2013, Rickley was transferred to Alabama and his family has not been able to visit him. Rickley’s father has never been involved in his childhood and Rickley grew up in an environment where domestic violence was not uncommon. Rickley was arrested because he had drugs on him, but the plea agreement which he took also included the sale of drugs. This is not true. However, as a result of his arrest, ICE began a deportation case against Rickley, even though that would mean that Rickley would be separated from his family. Rickley has taken ownership for his past mistakes and is determined to overcome his past struggles by focusing on the future. Rickley has been baptized last August, regularly attends bible classes, and encourages other detainees to get involved as well. The Obama administration has directed local ICE officers to exercise discretion. However, ICE has failed to exercise discretion for Rickley and they are continuing to advocate for his deportation. Additionally, last summer the Obama administration announced a program to defer the deportation of persons who arrived in the United States as children. Rickley and his family desperately want him to remain in the United States, the only country that he considers home. Please sign this petition asking ICE to follow their own directives and not deport Rickley.

Luis is a 24 year old, hardworking college student who has lived in the United States nearly all of his life. He is a law abiding, contributing member of our community, yet ICE is continuing to pursue his deportation, and not allow him to remain with his family here in the United States. Luis came to the United States when he was just nine years old, to join his mother and escape the violence in his native Mexico. He eventually obtained his GED and is currently working towards a degree in graphic design at a community college. He also works full-time for a delivery company to help support his family, which includes his mother, step-father and two, younger United States citizen step-siblings. Luis has never been convicted of a crime. At age 18, Luis was wrongfully arrested and spent more than one year incarcerated at Rikers Island before all of the charges against him were dismissed. As a result of that arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began a deportation case against Luis, even though he was not convicted of any crime. Since then, Luis has been fighting against his deportation. The Obama administration has directed local ICE officers to exercise discretion and not deport individuals like Luis. However, ICE has failed to exercise discretion for Luis and they are continuing to advocate for his deportation. Additionally, last summer the Obama administration announced a program to defer the deportation of persons who arrived in the United States as children and have obtained a certain level of education (DACA). Luis meets all of the requirements for DACA, yet his application was denied. Luis and his family desperately want him to remain in the United States, the only country that he considers home. Please sign this petition asking ICE to follow their own directives and not deport Luis.