DHS Targets Gurdwaras in Immigration Crackdown, Sparking Outrage Among Sikh Groups

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun visiting gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants. This controversial move has drawn sharp criticism from Sikh organizations, which view it as a threat to the sanctity of their religious spaces.

Reports suggest some gurdwaras in these areas may serve as gathering spots for Sikh separatists and undocumented immigrants.

Policy Shift and New Directive

The enforcement actions follow a directive by Acting DHS Secretary Benjamin Huffman, issued shortly after Trump’s inauguration. The directive reversed guidelines from the Biden administration that had restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from conducting enforcement activities in or near "sensitive" locations, such as places of worship, schools, and hospitals.

A DHS spokesperson defended the change, stating:

“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 entered our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”

Sikh Organizations Respond

Sikh advocacy groups have strongly condemned the policy change, expressing alarm over reports of DHS agents visiting gurdwaras within days of the new directive.

• Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), said:

  “We are deeply alarmed by the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to eliminate protection for sensitive areas and then target places of worship like gurdwaras. Gurdwaras are not just places of worship; they are vital community hubs that provide support, nourishment, and spiritual solace. Targeting these spaces threatens the sanctity of our faith and sends a chilling message to immigrant communities nationwide.”

• The Sikh Coalition also criticized the removal of protections for sensitive areas, including places of worship, schools, hospitals, and social service providers. The group raised concerns about potential surveillance, investigations, arrests, and raids at gurdwaras.

The Sikh Coalition warned:

“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. It burdens religious exercise and recalls dark periods in history when governments interfered with Sikhs’ ability to freely practice their faith—with deadly consequences.”

Impact on Religious Practices

Sikh organizations fear that the threat of enforcement actions could discourage attendance at gurdwaras, impacting essential religious practices and community activities.

The Sikh Coalition emphasized:

“If Sikhs, whether documented or undocumented, fear raids and surveillance at gurdwaras, attendance will drop. This will limit the community’s ability to gather, worship, and provide support to one another, fundamentally threatening our way of life.”

As the controversy unfolds, Sikh groups continue to advocate for the protection of places of worship and sensitive community spaces, urging the government to reconsider this policy shift.