Washington, DC – The Immigrant Justice Network (IJN) is devastated to learn that ICE has deported Robert Panton – a 59-year-old father, grandfather, and youth mentor – to Jamaica, a country he has not stepped foot in for more than five decades. Mr. Panton was detained during a routine check-in last month and was deported on Friday, despite overwhelming community support, ongoing medical needs, and a life built in Harlem after more than 50 years in the United States.
After years of ICE granting discretion in his case, the agency abruptly reversed course, tearing him from his family, community, and the youth he mentors. Mr. Panton’s legal team had filed a stay of removal and a habeas petition, both of which remain pending.
“Robert’s deportation is unconscionable,” said Oliver Merino, Coordinator of the Immigrant Justice Network. “He is a pillar for his family and community and has spent the last four years going above and beyond to give back to Harlem. We urge for Robert to be returned immediately, and encourage our community to support his family while they endure this nightmare.”
Mr. Panton was incarcerated for a drug offense during the height of the “War on Drugs,” serving 30 years for a conviction that today would result in a drastically shorter sentence. Since his release in 2020, he has built a life of service in Harlem, launching the Too Young to Die youth campaign and partnering with local organizations to create summer programs and support young people in crisis.
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