DHS actions spark concern among Sikh organizations

Law enforcement agents from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have started visiting gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey as part of efforts to identify illegal immigrants, prompting outrage among Sikh organizations that view the move as a threat to the sanctity of their faith.

According to reports, some gurdwaras in these states have been linked to both Sikh separatist activities and the presence of undocumented immigrants. These visits come in the wake of a policy change by the newly inaugurated Trump administration, which rescinded previous guidelines protecting “sensitive areas” like places of worship, hospitals, and schools from immigration enforcement actions.

New directive allows enforcement in sensitive areas

Within hours of Donald Trump assuming office as the 47th President of the United States, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive reversing restrictions on enforcement actions in sensitive areas.

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“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murderers and rapists—who have illegally come into our country,” a DHS spokesperson said in defense of the new policy.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense,” the spokesperson added.

Sikh groups decry policy shift

The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and other organizations have strongly condemned the rescission of sensitive area protections.

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“This troubling shift in policy comes in tandem with community reports of DHS agents visiting gurdwaras in the New York and New Jersey areas just days after the directive was issued,” SALDEF said in a statement.

Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF, voiced deep concern:
“We are deeply alarmed by the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to eliminate protections for sensitive areas and then target places of worship like gurdwaras. Gurdwaras are not just places of worship; they are vital community centers that provide support, nourishment, and spiritual solace to Sikhs and the broader community. Targeting these spaces for enforcement actions threatens the sanctity of our faith and sends a chilling message to immigrant communities nationwide.”

Fear of decreased religious participation

The Sikh Coalition also criticized the directive, warning that it opens the door for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct surveillance, arrests, and raids at gurdwaras, even without warrants.

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“The idea that our gurdwaras could be subject to government surveillance and raids by armed law enforcement with or without warrants is unacceptable to the Sikh faith tradition,” the organization said. “It will burden religious exercise by limiting the ability of Sikhs to gather and associate with one another in accordance with our faith.”

The Coalition further emphasized the historical significance of such government interference:
“It also harkens to dark periods in our collective memory when governments interfered in the ability of Sikhs to practice our faith freely—with deadly consequences.”

The group warned that raids and surveillance could deter worshippers from attending gurdwaras, diminishing their ability to fulfill essential religious practices and weakening their role as community hubs.

Broader implications for immigrant communities

The rescinded protections have drawn criticism for their broader implications on immigrant communities across the US. With gurdwaras and other places of worship no longer designated as safe zones, immigrant communities may face heightened fear and vulnerability.

The Sikh community, which has historically faced discrimination, has called for the reinstatement of sensitive area protections, urging the administration to respect the sanctity of religious spaces while addressing immigration enforcement.