New Sanctuary is a speculative film and photography exhibit that follows the deportation case of a former US green card holder of African descent named “Ramesh” who is currently fighting his deportation back to Guyana where he is a naturalized citizen. Ramesh was convicted of a crime for which he served his time and was released but which ultimately stripped him of his Green card. As a result of his previous conviction and an escalation of deportations as a result of changes in US immigration policies, Ramesh was detained for a year and a half by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Upon release, Ramesh was ordered to wear an electronic tracking device around his ankle and ordered to report regularly to ICE offices in downtown Manhattan. The film depicts the support of the New Sanctuary Coalition, which is an interfaith coalition of activists who assists impacted individuals under current immigration policies.
André Daughtry is an interdisciplinary photography and media artist who lives in Brooklyn. He holds an MFA in Photography and Media from The California Institute of the Arts(Calarts) and an MA in Theology and the Arts from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. André is currently Sr. Community Minister of the Arts at The Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village, NYC.