Federal agents will return immigrant-rights activist Ravi Ragbir to a holding facility in the New York City area while a judge weighs a bid for his release, Justice Department officials said Wednesday.

Ragbir was unexpectedly detained on Jan. 11 — after ICE officials told him that his reprieve from deportation would not be extended.

He was then transferred to a South Florida detention facility, where government lawyers said he would likely remain as a legal battle unfolded over his deportation.

But in a court filing Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Waterman signaled an about-face from federal officials.

Feds can't explain why ICE detained activist Ravi Ragbir

"ICE will exercise its discretion to transfer Mr. Ragbir from Miami to a facility within ICE's New York City Field Office's area of responsibility," Waterman wrote.

A Wednesday rally for Ragbir, meanwhile, drew over 100 supporters to the Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights.

Attendees included City Council members Jumaane Williams and Ydanis Rodriguez, both of whom were arrested last week when Ragbir's detention sparked a chaotic protest outside the Javits Federal Building in lower Manhattan.

Protests erupt after immigrant rights leader detained by ICE

"We will not allow anyone to stop the right that we have to use peaceful civil disobedience in our nation," Rodriguez said Wednesday.

Williams called for a probe of the NYPD's role in Ragbir's arrest and transport.

Ragbir's outspoken persona led to federal authorities singling him out for deportation, said Public Advocate Letitia James.

"He exercised dissent," James said at the rally. "As a result of that, orders came from on high to penalize him."