On August 14, 2025, New Sanctuary Coalition executive director Ravi Ragbir reported to an Application Support Center operated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, a subsidiary of the Department of Homeland Security or DHS) located at a strip mall in Brooklyn. There, he was photographed and submitted fingerprints, a required step to replacing his green card.
Before receiving a pardon in January for a conviction that resulted in two years in immigration detention and a two-decade fight against deportation, Ragbir had to attend biometrics appointments on a regular basis as his status hung in the balance. Last week's appointment in Brooklyn may well be the last time he needs to attend one.
“Even though I don’t expect anything to happen and this is just one part of the process, I am anxious,” said Ragbir before entering the storefront. “Nothing is normal anymore, so you’re not sure what’s going to happen. The anxiety is there. You can see that in the people going in.”
In attendance were faith leaders the Rev. Dr. Robert Foltz-Morris, the Rev. Thia Reggio, the Rev. Adriene Thorne, and the Rev. Elizabeth G. Maxwell, and Aaron Miner. When entering the facility, only the Rev. Thorne and attorney Stephen Kelley were allowed to enter with Ragbir. Thankfully, he emerged from the facility within a few minutes and exited the building without incident.
The Rev. Thorne provides a first-hand account of what happened within those few minutes:
I was anxious this morning. Joining a group of people to accompany noncitizen, Ravi Ragbir, to his check-in was a new experience for me. Ravi was anxious too, but on our subway ride he shared helpful information, told stirring stories, and made us all laugh. I discovered that he is always teaching people how to support immigrants, which is to say that he is always showing us how to love one another better.
The USCIS workers could not believe that Ravi showed up with so much support — four ministers, a lawyer, and several others. Their faces lit up. They smiled. One said, “I wish my church showed up like this for me!” Though we were a large group, I was selected to enter the waiting room with Ravi and his lawyer and right away, Ravi started teaching. He made bad jokes. He disarmed the workers with his smile. He questioned and suggested other ways of being and doing and they received his suggestions. They shared their names. They asked us to pray for them and the space because times were getting hard.
They thanked us for the good work we were doing. It was over more quickly than I expected. It was a good day…this time.
I’m disheartened that we had to make the trip. Sad that most people in the waiting room waited alone. Hopeful that smiles and suggestions and bad jokes and prayer can still turn people and situations around. Thanks be to God.
