IMMIGRATION officials from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) visited gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey on Sunday to search for “illegal immigrants,” causing alarm among Sikh organisations.
The Trump administration has often used the term “illegal aliens” to refer to people entering the country without authorisation.
A DHS spokesperson explained, “This action helps the brave officers in CBP and ICE enforce immigration laws and arrest criminals, including murderers and rapists, who have illegally entered the country.”
The spokesperson further emphasised that criminals should no longer be able to hide in places like schools and churches to avoid arrest and that the Trump administration trusted law enforcement to make decisions with common sense.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, actions against people deemed “illegal” immigrants have intensified. The administration reversed guidelines from the Biden administration that restricted enforcement actions near sensitive areas like schools, churches, and gurdwaras.
Earlier, Vice President JD Vance did not rule out raids on religious buildings, stating that removing criminals, whether legal or illegal immigrants, was necessary for public safety.
Concerns from the Sikh Community
The Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF) expressed serious concern over the DHS’s decision to remove protections for sensitive areas like places of worship, including gurdwaras.
Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of SALDEF, stated, “We are deeply alarmed by the decision to target gurdwaras, which follows reports of DHS agents visiting these places in New York and New Jersey.”
Gill warned that these actions threatened the “sanctity” of the Sikh faith and sent a “chilling message” to immigrant communities in the US.
The Sikh Coalition also criticised the new guidelines, saying they would make it harder for Sikhs to gather and practice their faith. They expressed concern that gurdwaras might be subject to government raids and surveillance, which could decrease attendance and disrupt religious practices.
The new approach has raised fears that Sikhs, whether documented or undocumented, could avoid participating in religious services out of fear of raids.
