SALDEF Condemns DHS Rescission of “Sensitive Areas” Guidelines Removing Protections for Gurdwaras

For Immediate Release

January 26th, 2025

Contact: media@saldef.org

SALDEF Condemns DHS Rescission of “Sensitive Areas” Guidelines Removing Protections for Gurdwaras

WASHINGTON D.C. — SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) expresses grave concern over the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent directive rescinding the guidelines that designated “sensitive areas,” such as houses of worship, where immigration enforcement actions were previously restricted. This troubling shift in policy comes in tandem with community reports of DHS agents visiting gurdwaras in the New York and New Jersey areas just days after the directive was issued.

“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 gurdwaras,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF. “Gurdwaras are not just places of worship; they are vital community centers that provide support, nourishment, and spiritual solace to Sikhs and the broader community. Targeting these spaces for enforcement actions threatens the sanctity of our faith and sends a chilling message to immigrant communities nationwide.”

The rescinded guidelines recognized the critical need to protect spaces like gurdwaras, churches, mosques, and schools from enforcement operations to uphold trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. SALDEF strongly opposes any policies or actions that undermine these principles and violate the sanctity of places of worship.

SALDEF urges DHS to immediately reconsider this directive and calls on the broader community to report any additional incidents of enforcement actions at gurdwaras or other places of worship. The organization remains steadfast in its commitment to holding DHS accountable to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with existing laws and the fundamental rights of all Americans.

“We encourage members of the Sikh community to remain vigilant and report any DHS activity at gurdwaras to SALDEF,” added Gill. “We are committed to advocating for policies that respect the civil rights and religious freedoms of all communities, and we will continue to push DHS to act in alignment with these values.”

 

Know Your Rights (Gurmukhi) Know Your Rights (English)

Join SALDEF and the Fremont Gurdwara Sangat on Saturday, March 30th for a free mental wellness check-in at 4PM PST at the Fremont Gurdwara Sahib. 

The session will be led by experts in the field and members of the community: Jagmeet Sangha, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Dr. Preet Kaur Sabharwal, co-author of “Counseling and Psychotherapy for South Asian Americans: Identify, Psychology, and Clinical Implications”

Practicing mental wellness and well-being can be challenging, particularly while navigating the stigmas that surround these topics of conversation in our communities and trying to find experts and resources that understand cultural differences. SALDEF recognizes this gap, and is committed to opening up these avenues of dialogue in the hopes of creating a happier, healthier sangat by providing resources to community members and connecting them with experts who understand cultural context. 

 

 

  • Army to Allow Turbans in Junior ROTC
  • SALDEF Year End Fundraising Goal Exceeded!
  • UPDATE: India Abroad Apologizes
  • Attention all College Students and Recent Graduates
  • SALDEF Conducts Law Enforcement Training for Howard County, MD Police
  • SALDEF Hosts Successful Know Your Rights Forums in California
  • 2012 Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars Available
  • SALDEF Participates in Anti-Bullying Circle
  • Scholarship Opportunity Available for High School and College Students
  • Upcoming Events

Army to Allow Turbans in Junior ROTC

The Department of Defense will now allow Sikh and Muslim students participating in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) to wear turbans and headscarves while in uniform. This victory was won by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for responding to an incident in which a Muslim teen quit JROTC when her commanding officer would not allow her to wear her hijab in the homecoming parade.  The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army stated in a letter to CAIR that, “the Army has reviewed its JROTC uniform policy and will develop appropriate procedures to provide Cadets the opportunity to request the wear of religious head dress, such as the turban and hijab.”

If you have an issue with your high school JROTC, contact us.

SALDEF Year End Fundraising Goal Exceeded!

With the community’s generous support we surpassed our 2011 year end fundraising goal to raise $75,000.  SALDEF would like to thank everyone for their generous donations! This money will help us continue our mission of defending, informing and empowering Sikh Americans. We could not do this without your generous support!  You can support our work year round, or monthly with a recurring donation at www.saldef.org/donate.

Learn more about our work in our newly released annual report.

UPDATE: India Abroad Apologizes

In November 2011, SALDEF responded to an extremely offensive letter to the editor printed in India Abroad blaming Sikh Americans for the ill treatment they may receive. SALDEF took issue with the author’s words as well as India Abroad’s decision to print such a letter. In their December 9, 2011 publication, the editors of India Abroad printed an apology, stating in part, “[We] sincerely apologize for hurting any sentiments caused by the publication of the said letter.” Read the full apology here.

Attention all College Students and Recent Graduates

SALDEF’s SikhLEAD Internship Program partners with congressional offices to place exceptional Sikh American college students and recent graduates in internship positions on Capitol Hill. Through this program, Sikh American young leaders will have access to a competitive opportunity that will serve to further their academic and professional aspirations. Spend your summer in Washington, DC interning with a member of Congress. Make this a summer you won’t forget and gain valuable experience to build your future!
Application deadline for summer 2012 is February 26th at 11:59PM EST.
Early applications will be given preference. Apply online here!

SALDEF Conducts Law Enforcement Training for Howard County, MD Police

Jasjit Singh, SALDEF Associate Executive Director, conducted a Law Enforcement Partnership Program training for new recruits in the Howard County Maryland Police Department on December 23rd, 2011. The training provided information on the Sikh faith and theology, as well as the challenges Sikh Americans face on a daily basis. Participants watched On Common Ground, a training film co-produced by SALDEF and the Department of Justice, to help articulate the steps officers can take to identify and respect members of the Sikh faith.

SALDEF Hosts Successful Know Your Rights Forums in California

On December 4th and 11th, Know Your Rights Forum events were hosted in Northern and Southern California to address local sangat issues around workplace discrimination, hate crimes, biased incidents and more.  Guest speakers from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Department of Justice, Office of Community Relations Services all spoke to the sangat members in detail regarding their civil rights.  Special thanks to Gurdwara management at Gurdwara Sahib San Jose, San Jose and Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Buena Park.

2012 Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars Available

It’s not too late to for SALDEF’s Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars. Educate your neighbors, friends, and co-workers about Sikh Americans in an easy, informative way through our annual pocket calendars. In their ninth year of production, the 2012 calendars feature full-color images of Sikh Americans, along with examples of core Sikh values and facts about Sikhs in the United States. In a new folded style, the calendars are the size of standard business cards. Sikhs across the nation have distributed them at their workplace, schools, convenience stores, gas stations, taxi cabs, senior citizens centers, and public libraries.


SALDEF Participates in Anti-Bullying Circle

On December 5th, 2011, SALDEF participated in SAALT’s (South Asian Americans Leading Together) DC SAALT Circle, a group of community members who meet bimonthly to discuss issues within the community. The December SAALT Circle addressed the issue of bullying and the South Asian community. SALDEF discussed the impact of bullying from a community level and shared ways that communities can work to reduce and react to bullying. Other speakers on the panel were Akil Vohra from the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Shawn Gaylord from GLSEN.

SHARE: Click here to email and share your story about bullying with SALDEF.

Scholarship Opportunity Available for High School and College Students

The International Institute of Gurmat Studies (IIGS) announces two scholarships ($500.00 each) in memory of its founder Captain K.H. Singh for Sikh Youth who are High School seniors or current college students. The purpose is to award and promote Sikh Youth as they pursue their educational goals. Deadline to receive applications is January 15, 2012. Details are also available via www.iigs.com.  To apply, click here.

Upcoming Events

  • January 5 – Yolo County District Attorney”s Office Training – Woodland, CA
  • January 11 – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Training  – Philadelphia, PA
  • January 23 —U.S. Park Police Training – Washington, D.C.
  • January 29 – Know Your Rights Forum – Riverside, CA
  • February 8 – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Training – Los Angeles, CA
  • February 21 – U.S. Park Police Training – Washington, D.C.

By Jose G. Santos, CNN View the video here. Fairfax Station, Virginia (CNN)– Ten years ago, Balbir Singh Sodhi was gunned down, apparently because he looked Muslim or Arab. He was neither. Sodhi was a Sikh. Members of the religious tradition say he was the first person to be murdered in retaliation for the 9/11 attacks. That claim has been backed up by the Justice Department. “The first person killed in post-9/11 violence, Balbir Singh Sodhi, was a Sikh, shot while pumping gas at his gas station in Arizona four days after 9/11,” said Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez in congressional testimony earlier this year. Sodhi’s killer, 45-year-old aircraft mechanic Frank Roque, gunned down the bearded, turban-wearing Indian immigrant outside the gas station Sodhi owned in Mesa, Arizona. Roque drove up to the station, fired a handgun  at Sodhi five times, then fled. Roque would go on to shoot at a Lebanese-American gas station clerk and fire into the home of an Afghan-American family later that same day. In 2003, Roque was sentenced to death for Sodhi’s murder. On appeal, his sentence was reduced to life in prison. Blending in, standing out Ten years after the September 11 attacks, which provoked a wave of organizing among Sikhs worried about being mistakenly targeted in retaliatory attacks, adherents of the religion remain both visible and enigmatic. “Most of the challenges we face can be traced to people not knowing who we are,” said Jasjit Singh, assistant executive director at the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. “I don’t feel there is a specifically anti-Sikh bias, because people don’t know what Sikhs are.” Singh’s group estimates that there are about 500,000 Sikhs in the United States, nearly all of Indian origin. Sikh women are less identifiable than men, identifiable by their beards and turbans. Many American Sikh women dress like other Westerners or wear the salwar kameez, a traditional north Indian garment of a long shirt and loose-fitting pants.

A woman prays during a Sikh service.

Sikhism emerged more than 500 years ago in Punjab, in what is now India. Adherents of the monotheistic faith believe in “devotion, remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality between all human beings, social justice, while emphatically denouncing superstitions and blind rituals,” according to the website of the Sikh Coalition, a U.S.-based group. “The ultimate goal in Sikhism is to merge into the divine love we know is God,” said Navdeep Singh, a policy adviser to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. “We believe in the cycle of reincarnation,” he said. “That you will be judged by your deeds, and come back, and each time you come back you move one step closer to the divine.” There are 25 million Sikhs around the world, according to the Sikh Coalition, which was formed after the September 11 attacks.

Congregants meet inside a Sikh temple in Virginia.

Inside the temple A Sikh temple is called a gurdwara, which means door to the guru, or teacher. Gurdwara refers to both a place and a practice, encompassing temple, teachings and ceremony. Gurdwaras around the world variously incorporate clinics, schools, guest quarters and community centers, which Sikhs say is a sign of the religion’s values of service and equality. “Sikhism was founded in an area and in a time in which inequality was rampant,” said Navdeep Singh. “If you were a woman, you were less than a man. If you were poor you were less than a rich person. Based on what caste you were, that defined your entire life. Sikhism was a rejection of those ideas.” At the gurdwara known as the Sikh Foundation of Virginia,  the muffled trills of a harmonium blended with birdsong on a recent Sunday morning.

The golden dome of the Sikh Foundation of Virginia.

The temple’s  golden dome shimmers among the rustling dark green woods like a crown atop a velvet cushion. As worshipers enter, shoeless and with heads covered, they approach the Guru Granth Sahib, a book elaborately enthroned beneath a canopy at the head of the building’s main hall. Obeisance is made, and a gift, usually of money, is placed on the dais. Music, song, prayer, readings from the Guru Granth Sahib and sermons comprise most of the ceremony. Everyone sits on the floor, men on one side, women on the other, children wherever suits them.

Congregants meet for prayer and study in Virginia.

“The beginning of our Guru Granth Sahib, and Sikh philosophy is really encapsulated in the first phrase: ‘Ik Onkar,’ which means ‘there is one God,’ ” said Navdeep Singh. More than a book of scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib is considered to be a living teacher, or guru.

After the service congregants share a communal meal.

After the worship service, called Diwan, comes Langar, a simple meal eaten while sitting on the floor, which Sikhs say reinforces the ethic of egalitarianism. “Langar is based on this idea of equality, and making sure that no one goes away hungry,” said Navdeep Singh. “Because as Sikhs, we’re kind of like Italians. We view everyone as one family. And if you’re part of that family, you can’t go away hungry. You have to have a meal together.” SOURCE: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/15/10-years-after-sikh-murder-over-911-community-continues-to-blend-in-and-stand-out/

SALDEF Urges Community to Contact White House to Express Disappointment (Washington, DC) October 28, 2010 — At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, the White House confirmed that President Obama will not be visiting Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, on his trip to India.  Ben Rhodes, a Deputy National Security Adviser, told reporters simply that India is a “big country” and that “we can never do as many events as we’d like to do.”

President Barack Obama

“This is extremely disappointing for the Sikh American community,” said SALDEF Chairman Manjit Singh. “This was a unique opportunity for President Obama to counter the increasing xenophobia that has pervaded the political discourse across the country over the past several months. The White House needs to take steps to make this up to the Sikh American community.” SALDEF will be participating in a conference call today, Thursday, October 28th at 1:00pm EDT, with the White House, and will express the Sikh community’s displeasure in the manner in which the visit to Harmandir Sahib was handled. “We intend to communicate the Sikh community’s disapproval to the White House regarding the failed visit and our expectation of appropriate steps to remedy this incident,” said SALDEF Associate Executive Director Jasjit Singh. Over the past week, through the efforts of SALDEF, and our colleagues at Sikh Coalition and UNITED SIKHS, thousands of Sikhs like you across the country have sent messages, phone calls and faxes to the White House. We thank you for your action and being vocal on this issue. We urge you once again to voice your disappointment in the White House’s decision to not visit Harmandir Sahib by:

  1. Send a message to President Obama – Sign the Petition
  2. Call the White House Directly – (202) 456-1111
  3. Spread the word – Although the visit has been cancelled, the President should know that the Sikh community has taken notice.

Recent coverage of the issue: Politico News, Huffington Post, NY Times

“We call upon President Obama to rise above the politics of fear and visit the Harmandir Sahib, commonly referred to as the Golden Temple, on his trip to India.  The religious site stands for many of the same ideals as America – equality, universality and freedom.  In canceling his visit, President Obama emboldens those who seek to divide us based on race and religion.  He also gives in to the xenophobic and anti-Islamic trend that has taken over American public discourse in recent months. We call upon President Obama to seize this opportunity to demonstrate to the world that America embraces diversity and will not compromise its principles.” Background notes:  Press reports cite the fact that images of President Obama wearing a head-covering, as required of all visitors to the site, may be used to promote the idea that he is not an American or is a Muslim as a factor influencing a decision not to visit the site. About Sikhism: There are approximately 500,000 Sikhs in the United States. Sikhism originated in South Asia over 500 years ago.  There are approximately twenty-five million Sikhs worldwide. Observant Sikh Americans are distinguished by their dastaars (Sikh turbans) and uncut hair, and beards for men, all mandated articles of faith. About SALDEF: Founded in 1996, SALDEF is the oldest Sikh American civil rights and educational organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the civil rights of Sikh Americans through advocacy, education, and media relations. SALDEF’s mission is to create a fostering environment in the United States for future generations of Sikh Americans. For more information: www.saldef.org

Today marks the 10th anniversary of a landmark bill protecting the free exercise of religion.  The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) was signed in 2000 by President Bill Clinton. This law addresses two areas where conflicts between government and religion often arise: land use and those confined to government institutions such as prisons. The passing of this law directly benefited Sikhs; in Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Yuba City vs. County of Sutter the judge found that Sutter County had violated RLUIPA and upheld the constitutionality of RLUIPA’s land use provisions, allowing the gurdwara in Yuba City, California to be built. The law forbids state and local governments from imposing a substantial burden on the free exercise of religion in cases of land use restrictions and institutions such as prisons, hospitals and group homes, unless they can demonstrate that imposition of such a burden is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling government interest. In a report on the 10th anniversary released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department noted that RLUIPA “has had a positive impact on protecting the religious freedom of a wide range of faith groups, and had a particularly significant impact protecting the religious freedom of minorities.” The Department reported that: •    It has opened 51 RLUIPA land use investigations, filed seven lawsuits, filed 10 amicus briefs, and intervened in 71 lawsuits to defend RLUIPA’s constitutionality. •    Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist land use cases made up a disproportionate number of its RLUIPA investigations —13 times their representation in the population. •    Half of its land use investigations involving Christians have involved racial or ethnic minorities. •    Of the 18 land use matters involving Muslims it has reviewed, eight have been opened since May of this year. When private lawsuits are factored in, the report states that “thousands of individuals and institutions from a wide range of faith traditions” have been actively protected by RLUIPA in its 10 years of existence. RLUIPA was introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Charles Canady, R-Fla., and co-sponsored by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Chet Edwards, D-Texas. It was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. The measure passed Congress on July 27, 2000, and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 22, 2000.  In signing the bill, Clinton thanked members of the coalition for the “central role they played in crafting the legislation.” The law was challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 in Cutter v. Wilkinson. The case reached the Supreme Court after members of Satanist, Wicca and other non-mainstream religions sued Ohio‘s corrections department, claiming its officials denied them opportunities to gather for worship or use particular religious ceremonial items. The High Court ruled unanimously that the section of RLUIPA dealing with prisoners does not violate the Establishment Clause. “RLUIPA … protects institutionalized persons who are unable freely to attend to their religious needs and are therefore dependent on the government’s permission and accommodation for exercise of their religion,” wrote Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for the Court.

Les Jin from the DOJ visits the GNFA sangat (May 2010).

Les Jin from the Department of Justice joined SALDEF this past week at the GNFA gurdwara in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Mr. Jin is one of the Senior Counsels in the Civil Rights Division. Mr. Jin met members of the sangat to help develop a strong relationship between DOJ and the Sikh American community in Maryland.   He shared some of the President’s plans to reach out to and work with the Sikh American and Asian Pacific Islander American communities.  He also talked about the work that the Civil Rights Division does, the ways they can help you and your sangat, and how we work with them. Thank you to the GNFA sangat for hosting!

SMART Notifies FBI, Coordinating Local Response Fairfield, CA – Following the second shooting in the last two weeks at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara (place of worship) in Fairfield, CA, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), is coordinating a response with the local community and law enforcement. While no individual was targeted in the shooting last weekend, several bullets pierced the sign of the Gurdwara, which followed a similar incident that occurred on May 29. Local and federal officials have not labeled this a hate crime and a thorough investigation is currently underway. If the shootings are determined to be hate-motivated, the Solano County Sheriff’s office, which is handling the case, would seek the support of the FBI and Department of Justice. SMART, along with the Sikh Americans across the country, extends support to the Fairfield Sikh community and will continue to work with them as the investigation and community relations efforts progress.

SMART Notifies FBI, Monitoring Fresno Police Investigation Fresno, CA – The Sikh Association of Fresno Gurdwara (place of worship) was vandalized with racist graffiti on Saturday, March 13. Two large scrawls drawn on a board in front of the Gurdwara read “Rags Go Home” and “It’s Not Your Country.” The Fresno police have not identified suspects and are investigating the case as a “racial incident.” The graffiti was reported to the Fresno police on Saturday. Since learning about the incident, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh American civil rights organization, contacted the Fresno Police. SMART also notified the FBI field offices in Sacramento and Washington, DC, along with officials at the Civil Rights Office at the U.S. Department of Justice. Captain Marty West of Fresno police informed SMART that the police have reported the incident to the local Crime Stoppers. The local affiliate of NBC is also publicizing the incident and encouraging tips or information leading to the capture of suspects. The number to call is the Crime Stoppers hot line, (559) 498-7867. Captain West said that all local police squads have been asked to patrol the Gurdwara regularly and are working with the local Sikh community to ensure their safety. SMART, along with the Sikh Americans across the country, extends support to the Fresno Sikh community. We will continue to update the community about the investigation and community relations efforts.