WASHINGTON, Jan 27: Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security have begun visiting gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey as part of an effort to identify illegal immigrants, prompting strong backlash from some Sikh organizations who view these actions as a violation of their religious sanctity.
Several gurdwaras in these states are believed to have connections to Sikh separatists and may be frequented by undocumented immigrants.
Within hours of Donald Trump taking office as the 47th President of the United States, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman issued a directive that revoked the previous guidelines established by the Biden administration which protected so-called “sensitive areas” from immigration enforcement actions, including places of worship like gurdwaras and churches.
“This action empowers the dedicated agents of CBP and ICE to uphold our immigration laws and apprehend criminal aliens—such as murderers and rapists—who have entered our country unlawfully,” a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated.
“Criminals will no longer find refuge in American schools and churches to evade arrest. The Trump administration is committed to allowing law enforcement to operate freely without hindrance,” the spokesperson added.
The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDF) voiced serious concerns regarding the rescinding of the guidelines that previously restricted immigration enforcement in sensitive areas.
“This alarming shift in policy coincided with reports of DHS agents visiting gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey shortly after the directive was released,” SALDF noted.
“We are profoundly troubled by the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to remove protections for sensitive areas and subsequently target gurdwaras,” remarked Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of SALDEF.
Gill emphasized that gurdwaras serve not only as places of worship but also as essential community centers that provide support, nourishment, and spiritual solace for Sikhs and the wider community.
“Targeting these spaces for enforcement actions undermines the sanctity of our faith and conveys a disturbing message to immigrant communities across the nation,” she added.
The Sikh Coalition denounced the Trump administration’s decision to overturn the DHS policy regarding “protected areas,” which encompassed hospitals, schools, and other vital institutions, suggesting it could lead to ICE agents performing surveillance, investigations, arrests, and raids at gurdwaras.
“The prospect of our gurdwaras being subjected to government surveillance and armed law enforcement raids is unacceptable within the Sikh faith tradition. It hampers our ability to practice our religion freely and could inhibit Sikhs from gathering and associating as per our beliefs,” stated the Sikh Coalition.
“This situation echoes dark chapters in our history when governmental overreach curtailed the ability of Sikhs to practice their faith, often with tragic outcomes,” they added.
“If members of the Sikh community, regardless of their immigration status, are anxious about possible gurdwara raids and surveillance, this may lead to reduced attendance at gurdwaras, ultimately hindering significant religious practices,” the Sikh Coalition concluded. (PTI)
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