SALDEF at the Forefront of Protecting Sikh Americans
Faith-based communities in America have repeatedly come under attack.
These attacks not only threaten individual faith groups, such as Sikh Americans, but they also threaten the idea of religious freedom, one of the core principles under which our nation was founded.
At SALDEF, the safety and security of the Sikh American community is our top priority.
We’re proud to share a significant step forward achieved through SALDEF’s leadership.
Since 2022, SALDEF Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill has served as Chair of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC). This council plays a vital role in ensuring houses of worship, faith communities, and faith-based organizations have the resources and support they need to stay safe.
Leadership Leads to Action
Under Kiran’s leadership and based on SALDEF research and analysis, the committee has worked to identify substantive and meaningful recommendations to support and enhance faith-based communities’ ability to be able to prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of targeted violence.
In an effort to protect Sikh Americans and others from incidents of transnational repression, the subcommittee has published recommendations that the government should enact.
Not only does the report heighten domestic awareness of this threat, but it also includes recommendations for prosecuting perpetrators of transnational repression, increased victim support services for targeted communities and language-accessible resources and outreach.
The DHS also announced an increase of $390 million in grant funding for faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations, bringing the total FY2024 total to over $664 million.
Earlier this year, SALDEF engaged in successful advocacy to get Congressional funding for our sangats through this program.
The Committee reports and recommendations are on the FBSAC page, and you can find them here: Faith-Based Security Advisory Council | Homeland Security (dhs.gov).
Stay Informed, Stay Safe
We encourage you to visit https://saldef.org/transnationalrepression and https://saldef.org/nonprofit-security-grant-program-nsgp-application/ for the latest updates on security resources and initiatives.
SALDEF’s leadership role in this DHS committee demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the safety and security of all faith-based communities. SALDEF’s work in protecting the Sikh American community never stops. We will continue to advocate for your safety and security at every level.
