New York, January 27 –Immigration officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) visited gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey on Sunday to check for the presence of undocumented immigrants, drawing sharp criticism from Sikh organizations.
The visits follow the Trump administration’s decision to rescind guidelines protecting sensitive areas such as places of worship from immigration enforcement actions.
A DHS spokesperson defended the move, 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 come into our country.”
They added, “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”
The administration’s policy shift has sparked concerns, with Sikh organizations warning that targeting places of worship undermines religious freedoms and creates a climate of fear within immigrant communities.
The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) raised alarm over the visits, calling the policy change “deeply troubling.”
“We are gravely concerned about the elimination of protections for sensitive areas and the resulting targeting of places of worship like gurdwaras,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of SALDEF, in a statement to PTI.
Gill added that such actions “threaten the sanctity of the Sikh faith” and send a “chilling message” to immigrant communities. SALDEF also reported that the visits occurred shortly after the directive to end protections for sensitive areas was issued.
The Sikh Coalition echoed these concerns, emphasizing how the policy impacts the ability of Sikhs to practice their faith.
“The idea that our gurdwaras could face government surveillance and raids by armed law enforcement, with or without warrants, is unacceptable to the Sikh faith tradition,” the organization stated.
The Sikh Coalition highlighted the potential repercussions of these actions, warning of decreased attendance at gurdwaras due to fear among community members.
“If gurdwaras are subject to raids, this could hinder Sikhs’ ability to carry out essential religious practices in a meaningful manner,” the coalition mentioned.
Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance defended the move, arguing that no location should be off-limits if public safety is at risk.
“If someone convicted of a violent crime is hiding in a religious building, enforcement action is necessary,” he said, describing such measures as “not unique” to immigration cases.
As tensions rise over the policy shift, Sikh organizations continue to call for the reversal of the new guidelines, citing threats to religious liberty and community safety.
