Know Your Rights: Immigrant Workers’ Rights

In times of uncertainty, knowledge is power. As immigration policies rapidly change, we must be well informed about our civil rights. From encountering immigration enforcement at home and at work, SALDEF is here to help you learn your rights. That’s why we’re excited to announce our Know Your Rights webinar series this fall, designed specifically for Sikh Americans facing real challenges in schools, workplaces, and daily life.

These aren’t just theoretical discussions, they’re practical sessions that will equip you with the tools to protect yourself, your family, and your community when discrimination or violations occur. We will be joined by SALDEF staff and immigration attorneys. All sessions will be conducted in English and Punjabi.

💼 October 15 at 8pm EST // 5pm PST
Know Your Rights: Immigrant Workers’ Rights
What happens if immigration enforcement shows up at your workplace? What are your rights if ICE agents approach you while you’re working? Your immigration status doesn’t eliminate your civil rights. Learn how to protect both your livelihood and your dignity.

Every day, Sikh Americans face questions about their rights at work, school, and in public spaces. These webinars will give you confidence to:

  • Navigate difficult conversations with authority figures
  • Understand when your civil rights are being violated
  • Know exactly who to contact for help
  • Protect your family from discrimination

What You’ll Get:

✅ Expert guidance from civil rights attorneys and advocates
✅ Real-world scenarios and practical solutions
✅ Downloadable resources and contact information
✅ Q&A sessions to address your specific concerns

Register Now – It’s Free!

Can’t attend live? No problem—all registered participants will receive recordings and resource materials.

In times of uncertainty, knowledge is power. As immigration policies rapidly change, we must be well informed about our civil rights. From encountering immigration enforcement at home and at work, SALDEF is here to help you learn your rights. That’s why we’re excited to announce our Know Your Rights webinar series this fall, designed specifically for Sikh Americans facing real challenges in schools, workplaces, and daily life.

These aren’t just theoretical discussions, they’re practical sessions that will equip you with the tools to protect yourself, your family, and your community when discrimination or violations occur. We will be joined by SALDEF staff and immigration attorneys. All sessions will be conducted in English and Punjabi. 

📚 September 24 at 8pm EST // 5pm PST
Know Your Rights: Back to School for Students & Parents
Don’t let visa fears or campus confusion derail your dreams. You have rights as both a student and as a person of faith – learn how to protect both.

Every day, Sikh Americans face questions about their rights at work, school, and in public spaces. These webinars will give you confidence to:

  • Navigate difficult conversations with authority figures
  • Understand when your civil rights are being violated
  • Know exactly who to contact for help
  • Protect your family from discrimination

What You’ll Get:

✅ Expert guidance from civil rights attorneys and advocates
✅ Real-world scenarios and practical solutions
✅ Downloadable resources and contact information
✅ Q&A sessions to address your specific concerns

Register Now – It’s Free!

Can’t attend live? No problem—all registered participants will receive recordings and resource materials.

Join SALDEF for a vital session on your legal rights. Learn how to protect yourself and your family when interacting with law enforcement, immigration officers, and others.

This event is free and open to all.

  • Learn your rights
  • Get informed on legal protections
  • Q&A with legal experts

⏱️When: Sunday June 22, 2025
📍Where: Raj Khalsa Gurdwara 22821 Silverbrook Center Dr, Sterling, VA

Traveling this Summer? Join Our FREE Know Your Rights Webinar!

SALDEF is hosting a FREE Know Your Rights webinar on Wednesday, June 18th at 6PM EST. Learn how to protect yourself and your family during travel during this uncertain time.

From encountering immigration enforcement at home to border patrol after traveling abroad, SALDEF is here to help you learn your rights. 

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

  • Your rights during travel, regardless of immigration status
  • What to do if you’re stopped or questioned by TSA or border patrol agents
  • How to prepare before leaving and returning to the U.S.
  • How different immigration statuses may impact your travel
  • Practical tips to stay safe and confident while traveling

This webinar will be conducted in English and Punjabi featuring:

  • Anas J. Ahmed, Attorney (New York)
  • Manjit Singh, SALDEF Co-Founder

Register now: www.tinyurl.com/kyrsikhtravel

Disclaimer: This webinar is for informational purposes only. SALDEF and its speakers cannot provide legal advice about your specific case.

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)

Who can make the Sikh American voice heard? You. ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 8—Register to Vote Today! Protect Your Rights on Election Day Voter Rights Information – in English and Punjabi Voter Protection Hotline and Legal Aid – Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights 1-866-OUR-VOTE Quarter Sheet handouts (in English & Punjabi) – Full page (four to a page) and 4.25″x5.5″ You can do a lot in your own community to empower Sikhs across America. One of the easiest things to do is encouraging people to vote. Why should you? In 1923 the Supreme Court said Sikh Americans could not become citizens — we could not vote and were denied a voice in our country. Today, we have the right to vote, the right to share our voice and determine the direction of our nation. By voting, we can influence the decisions our elected officials make which impact our rights. Increasing the number of Sikh Americans registered to vote is one of the best ways to build and strengthen our community’s voice, presence and political capacity. But how do you do it? Join SikhVOTE! Volunteer at a registration drive or register new Sikh American voters at your local Gurdwara and encourage registered Sikh Americans to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2015. You will find a series of tools and information updated through Election Day for you to use. If you have any questions, send us an email. Tools & Resources SikhVOTE Voter Registration Toolkit Online Registration Widget Calendar, Deadlines & State Information Resources SikhVOTE Voter Registration Toolkit SikhVOTE Volunteer Voter Registration Toolkit – download here Election Day & Know Your Rights Poster (in English & Punjabi) – download here Survey & Pledge to Vote – download here Email Sign Up Sheet – download here Voter Rights Information – in English and Punjabi Quarter Sheet handouts (in English & Punjabi) – Full page (four to a page) and 4.25″x5.5″ Sample gurdwara announcement (in English & Punjabi) – download here Online Registration Widget Want to put an online registration widget on your website? Get it here.     Resources National Voter Registration Form – http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/register_to_vote.aspx Instructions for the National Voter Registration Form in Punjabi (unofficial) – download here Absentee Ballot Information – http://www.longdistancevoter.org/absentee_ballots State Specific Information – http://www.rockthevote.com/election-center/ Voter Protection Hotline, Legal Aid, and Resources – http://www.866ourvote.org/ State Voter ID Laws – http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/voter-id.aspx APALC – www.apalc.org APIAVote – www.apiavote.org 18 Million Rising – www.18mr.org SikhVOTE is a project of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) with the purpose of empowering Sikh American voters. SALDEF is a 501(c)3 non-partisan organization that does not advocate on behalf of any party, candidate, or campaign. Use of these materials does not constitute an endorsement by SALDEF.

  • 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.
  • SALDEF Responds to India Abroad Commentary
  • White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Bullying Summit
  • Share Your Stories – Racial Profiling And School Bullying
  • Newly Released FBI Hate Crimes Statistics
  • Scholarship Announced–Deadline Approaching
  • SikhLEAD Congressional Internship Program–Summer 2012
  • Know Your Rights Forums to be hosted throughout California
  • Upcoming Events

    • SALDEF Responds to India Abroad Letter to the Editor On October 14, 2011 India Abroad published a highly offensive commentary in the Letter to the Editor section of the paper. The author of a piece called “Beyond Bias” stated that “Sikhs living in western countries who are not baptized would do well to consider discarding the[ir]uncut hair and turbans so that they will not look like Osama and so suffer.”  Read the full article here. SALDEF immediately contacted India Abroad to question the editor’s discretion in publishing the comments.  Additionally, SALDEF responded to the comments in the November 11 edition of the publication.  Click here to read the full letter. White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Bullying Summit On October 29, 2011, SALDEF attended the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Bullying Summit in New York City. Newly released statistics indicate that Asian Americans reported the highest rate of bullying in classrooms, nearly 20% higher than any other racial or ethnic group, further stressing the importance of this issue within the Sikh American community. Senior members for the Obama administration, public health professionals, community advocates, students and parents attended the summit and discussed the effects of bullying, needed response, and prevention. Share Your Stories – Racial Profiling and School Bullying Have you or someone you know ever been a victim of school bullying or racial profiling?  If so, please share your story with us.  SALDEF is currently advocating for both the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA).  If passed, ERPA will better protect the community from racial profiling and SSIA will help ensure Sikh American children are protected from bullying in Schools. It is important to express to lawmakers how important these issues are to the Sikh American Community and we need your help. SHARE your story about racial profiling. SHARE your story about school bullying. TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Senator to Support ERPA FBI LogoNewly Released FBI Hate Crimes Statistics The FBI recently released their annual Hate Crimes Statistics for 2010. The publication details reported hate crimes by states, cities, towns, and colleges and universities. Of note, the statistics illustrate a jump in crimes motivated by anti-Islamic bias.  This of course, affects Sikh Americans because of misconceptions about our identity.  Currently, the FBI does not collect data on the number of Anti-Sikh hate-crimes.  SALDEF is actively working with the FBI to create a separate category which accurately reflects crimes committed against Sikh Americans. You can access the complete report of the FBI’s annual Hate Crimes Statistics for 2010 here. Scholarship for Northern California Students –Deadline Approaching The Indus Valley American Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the second year of the IVACC Scholarship Program.  Scholarships are being awarded to college students who are residents of Northern California and who have shown a commitment to the South Asian community and culture. The IVACC Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications with a deadline of November 22, 2011.  SALDEF encourages all interested members to apply today.  For more information, click here. SikhLEAD LogoSikhLEAD Congressional Internship Program–Summer 2012 As part of the SikhLEAD youth development initiative, SALDEF has partnered with congressional offices to offer Sikh American students internships on Capitol Hill. Applications will be available by mid December and close in mid February for Summer 2012 internship in Washington, DC. To learn more about the internship program visit www.sikhlead.org and subscribe to the SikhLEAD mailing list.Know Your Rights Forums to be Hosted Throughout California As a part of SALDEF’s ongoing efforts to empower the community and strengthen partnerships with government, we are pleased to announce a series of  Know Your Rights (KYR) Forums for the Sikh American communities of Northern and Southern California in the months of December and January.  For additional information, or if you would like to organize a Know Your Rights Forum for your local community, please contact Birpal Kaur via email at info@saldef.org. Upcoming Events:

    The Know Your Rights program creates an open forum encouraging all Sikh Americans to understand their rights. As a part of SALDEF’s ongoing efforts to empower the community and strengthen partnerships with government, we are pleased to announce a series of  Know Your Rights (KYR) Forums for the Sikh American communities of Northern and Southern California in the month of December. December 4th: Guru Nanak Sikh Temple-Buena Park 12-1pm December 11th: Sikh Gurdwara Sahib-San Jose 11-12pm The following government agencies and representatives will provide community members with important information about employment discrimination, hate crimes, and government resources. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, Local Law Enforcement Officials, Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Department of Education will be presenting to community members. Additionally, this will be an opportunity to network with government recruiters and discuss employment opportunities. Since 2002, SALDEF has organized numerous educational workshops for Sikh American communities in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. SALDEF would like to thank the management of Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Buena Park and Sikh Gurdwara Sahib, San Jose for participating, the leaders of the local Sikh American community, as well as the participating government agencies for their support. For additional information about this event or if you would like to organize a Know Your Rights Forum for your community, please contact Birpal Kaur by email at info@saldef.org or via phone at 213.985.1116.

    As part of our ongoing effort to educate and empower the Sikh American community across the country, SALDEF recently conducted two events for the Sikh community of Atlanta, Georgia. Outreach Event with US Attorney at SEWA Gurdwara On August 12, US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Sally Yates, joined Sikh community members at SEWA Gurdwara. In her remarks following diwan, Ms. Yates spoke highly of the Sikh commitment to justice and equality. She also reaffirmed her commitment to serving the Sikh American community, stating, “I work for each and every one of you.” Following langar, Ms. Yates met with local community leaders and youth representatives to discuss issues affecting the community. As the US Attorney, Ms. Yates, a presidential appointee, represents the federal government in US district court and US court of appeals. This is the second event US Attorney Yates has participated in this year with SALDEF to better understand the needs of the Sikh American community. Know Your Rights Forum at Sikh Study Circle On August 14, SALDEF conducted a Know Your Rights Forum in cooperation with the Sikh Study Circle of Georgia. Over 120 community members participated in the event.  Representatives from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Justice, and Georgia Department of Education spoke to community members about their rights and the resources available to them to combat discrimination and unfair treatment, as well as engaged in a lively question and answer session. The forum gave sangat members an opportunity to gain a better understanding about their rights as citizens and residents of the United States, and connect with local and federal officials, who are tasked with protecting those rights. SALDEF would like to acknowledge Jagjeet Sidhu and family, as well as Gulbagh Singh Basi and Gursharan Singh Pannu for their support in making these events successful. If you and your community would like to be similarly informed about your rights, please contact SALDEF at info@saldef.org.