Sikh organizations strongly condemned the action; The action was termed as a threat to the Sikh faith
Washington, January 27
Law enforcement officials from the US Department of Homeland Security (US Homeland Security) have begun visiting shrines in New York and New Jersey to check for the presence of illegal immigrants. On the other hand, some Sikh organizations have reacted sharply against this act, which has termed such acts as a threat to the sanctity of their religion.
Some gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey are seen as centers used by illegal and undocumented immigrants as well as Sikh separatists.
Within hours of Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Homeland Security Acting Secretary Benjamin Huffman issued a directive to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and rescinded the Joe Biden administration’s guidelines for border protection (CBP) enforcement actions, which barred law enforcement actions in or near so-called ‘sensitive’ areas. are These ‘sensitive’ areas also included places of worship like shrines and churches.
In a statement, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) expressed grave concern over the order to revoke the guidelines designating ‘sensitive areas’. “We are deeply concerned by the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to end protections for sensitive areas and then target places of worship such as shrines,” Kiran Kaur Gill, the organization’s executive director, said in a statement.
Bibi Gill said that Gurdwaras are not just places of worship; Rather, they are important community centers that provide support, nourishment and spiritual support to Sikhs and the wider community. “Targeting these places for law enforcement actions is a threat to the sanctity of our religion and sends a chilling message to migrant communities across the country,” he said.
Similarly, the Sikh Coalition said, “The Trump administration’s decision to rescind the DHS policy on “safe zones” (which included hospitals, schools, social service providers, and others) is a violation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s mandate. (ICE) opens the way for agents to conduct surveillance, investigations, arrests and raids at shrines.”
“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 religious tradition,” the organization said in a statement.
