Community activist and Harlem-resident Robert Panton, who had been carving a new path as a mentor and leader following his incarceration on drug charges from the 1990s, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in last month.
Gothamist reports that Panton, 59, now faces possible deportation based on these decades-old convictions, sparking outcry among those who have come to know his work in the community.
Despite complying with all requested check-ins and working diligently to seek legal remedies to remain in the United States, Panton was detained last Tuesday, March 25. His U Visa application, which is still pending, was a result of his being a victim of a violent crime.
The news of his detention has to quickly move through the community, bringing supporters to his cause. Sheila Davis Dodson, Panton’s partner, said in a statement, “I truly cannot understand why ICE has decided to take him from us today, when Robert has done everything they have asked of him for years now. It’s not right,” as quoted by Gothamist.
Local organizations and members of New York’s congressional delegation, including Democratic Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Jerry Nadler, have actively voiced their support for Robert Panton, pointing to his turn-around and significant community contributions.
As per a letter mentioned in the Gothamist, Espaillat reached out to then-President Joe Biden in November of 2023, urging for Panton’s pardon due to his acts of mentorship and education.
According to PIX11, the legal battle has not only centered around Panton’s contributions but also on the legal system’s treatment of individuals with past convictions. Panton himself, in a video recorded before his latest detention, said, “Our current laws continue to punish people like me even after we complete sentences.” And as the case continues to unfold, ICE has remained silent, not responding to a request for comment.
ICE’s actions have left Panton’s future uncertain and raised concerns about the agency’s policies. This case adds to the ongoing debate over immigration reform and the reintegration of former prisoners. Panton’s family and lawyer are fighting to keep him in the U.S., seeking legal intervention. A temporary order, as reported by PIX11, has been issued by the Southern District of New York court, preventing Panton from being deported pending further briefings in his case.
