Amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown, law enforcement in the United States is reportedly surveying gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey in search of illegal immigrants.
The crackdown follows the Trump administration’s decision to revoke a policy from the Biden era that previously restricted immigration enforcement near sensitive areas, including places of worship.
The Press Trust of India reported on Gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allege that these places may serve as centres for Sikh separatists and undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
President Trump swiftly directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to rescind the Biden administration’s guidelines that limited enforcement actions in sensitive locations. DHS officials explained that the change would allow Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to enforce immigration laws more effectively, including arresting individuals with criminal records.
A spokesperson from DHS emphasized that the new approach would prevent criminals from evading arrest by hiding in schools, churches, and other protected spaces. The spokesperson stated, “The Trump administration will no longer tie the hands of our law enforcement. We trust them to act with common sense.”
Sikh Community’s Response
The policy shift sparked outrage among Sikh organizations, which viewed it as a direct threat to the sanctity of their religious practices. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) expressed deep concern about the rescinded guidelines and reported visits by DHS agents to gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey shortly after the directive was issued.
Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), condemned the decision: “Gurdwaras are not just places of worship; they are essential community centres. Targeting these spaces for enforcement actions undermines the sanctity of our faith.”
The Sikh Coalition echoed these concerns, calling the DHS’s policy change unacceptable and a threat to Sikh religious practices. They warned that surveillance and enforcement actions at gurdwaras could lead to decreased attendance, impacting the ability to conduct vital religious practices.
The Sikh Coalition also drew historical parallels, stating, “This decision brings to mind darker periods in our collective history when governments interfered with Sikhs’ ability to practice their faith freely, often with deadly consequences.”
