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Stop Robert Panton’s Deportation!
UPDATE: It's with heavy hearts that we share that despite fierce advocacy from his family, community, and legal team, our friend and Harlem youth mentor Robert Panton has been unjustly deported.
Robert has worked tirelessly to be a positive influence and a source of joy in his community. Although Robert is now separated from his family - exiled to a country he has not known since he was a child, he told us, "I thank everyone for their support, but it's not over yet."
"I hope everyone will stay the course and keep fighting to stay with their families - we cannot give up hope," Mr. Panton said. For Robert, we will keep holding our heads high and keep working to right this egregious wrong.
To support Robert and his family, please donate to their Go Fund Me campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-help-for-robert-ny-community-member-displaced-by-ice
For more ways to help and take action visit https://immigrantjustice.org/ways-to-help/
Stop Robert Panton’s Deportation!
"If the United States would deport me from America, the only country I know, my community would lose the benefit of a reformed man who now has knowledge to give to the youth. My grandchildren are just learning about their grandfather. My children, who just adapted to having their father back, will be losing love only a father can give.”
Credit: Kristina Sumfleth
UPDATE: Robert was detained in March in New York City during a scheduled check-in at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office and now is at imminent risk of deportation. Sign the petition now to release Robert, stop his deportation, and keep him home with his family and community.
Robert Panton, a Black man from Harlem, has lived in the United States for 50 years. He is a devoted father, grandfather, and respected role model. But now ICE is trying to deport him for a single criminal conviction from over 30 years ago to a country he does not know, tearing him from his beloved community and family despite his transformation and years of service to those around him.
In Harlem, New York, where he grew up, Robert is a renowned community leader famous for his work mentoring and teaching youth through critical community programs. Robert’s devotion to his neighbors is his way of passing on the lessons he learned through incarceration and transformation.
Robert served more than 30 years in prison for a single drug offense during the height of the U.S. government’s “War on Drugs.” Like many other Black men, Robert suffered the disproportionate treatment of the racially unjust criminal legal system. Today, due to recent reforms, that same conviction would likely result in a sentence of one-third the time he served.
But now, even after fully serving his harsh sentence, Robert faces a second punishment: deportation and separation from his children, grandchildren and his beloved Harlem. This is due to the broken U.S. immigration system that doles out a double punishment for Black men like Robert. Even up against this injustice, Robert continues every day to give of himself to his loved ones and his community.
Last year, Robert was granted deferred action and a temporary halt on his deportation, but ICE detained him during his check-in in March. Recently, a federal judge declined to order Robert’s release or halt his deportation.
Despite his exceptional service to Harlem and support from New Yorkers and members of Congress, ICE is trying to deport Robert. Robert deserves an overdue second chance so he can continue to serve the many loved ones and young people in Harlem who depend on him.
ICE has the power to keep Robert home with his community. Harlem is stronger with him at home. Sign the petition now!
Sign the petition ⬇️
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Thank you for taking action to stop Robert Panton's deportation!
Thank you for joining the community fighting to keep Robert home. We will keep you updated on this campaign and what's happening with Robert's case.
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Hear Robert share more of his story. In 2021, when Robert was detained in immigration jail, he shared what it felt like to be detained and unjustly punished again, and why we need to change laws that criminalize immigrants.
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