Law enforcement officials from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have begun visiting gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey to investigate the presence of illegal immigrants. The move has prompted sharp criticism from Sikh organisations, which view these actions as a threat to the sanctity of their places of worship.
Some gurdwaras in the two states are believed to be used as hubs by Sikh separatists and undocumented immigrants, according to reports. The visits come in the wake of a significant policy change following Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
Hours after assuming office, acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive rescinding the Biden administration’s guidelines that restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) actions in sensitive areas, including places of worship.
“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,” a DHS spokesperson said. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
The policy shift has drawn sharp reactions from the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), which expressed deep concern over the decision to eliminate protections for sensitive areas.
The organisation highlighted that DHS agents visited gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey just days after the new directive was issued.
“This troubling shift in policy comes in tandem with community reports of DHS agents visiting gurdwaras in the New York and New Jersey areas,” SALDEF said in a statement.
Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF, added, “We are deeply alarmed by the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to eliminate protections for sensitive areas and then target places of worship like gurdwara.”
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