Community leaders from the Sikh community have firmly refuted reports circulating in some media outlets claiming that gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey were raided by law enforcement agencies. They described the claims as baseless and attributed them to misunderstandings and miscommunication.
Speaking from Richmond Hill Gurdwara, a major Sikh center in New York, Sukhjinder Singh Nijjar stated that prayer services on Sunday were conducted with reverence and without any interference. Nijjar, a representative of the Sikh Cultural Society and former chairman of its public and media committee, confirmed that there were no law enforcement actions at the gurdwara or any other Sikh temple in the region.
“The reports seem to stem from some sort of misunderstanding and word-of-mouth misinformation,” Nijjar said. He emphasized that gurdwaras in the area maintain strong and cooperative relationships with government agencies, regularly hosting officials for discussions on community matters.
Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, echoed Nijjar’s remarks, dismissing the claims of raids or visits by immigration or law enforcement agencies. He highlighted the positive relationship the Sikh community has cultivated with various levels of government, including the Justice Department and the White House.
“The Sikh community has made significant contributions to local life and has consistently provided support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Singh said. “These efforts are well-recognized and appreciated by government representatives.”
The reports of gurdwara raids come amid heightened concerns over recent policy changes by the Trump administration. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withdrew a long-standing policy that prohibited immigration officers from entering sensitive locations such as churches and schools to make arrests. Although the DHS statement explicitly mentioned churches, the policy change has raised alarm among other religious communities as well.
Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), expressed deep concern about the potential implications of the new policy. “Targeting these spaces for enforcement actions threatens the sanctity of our faith and sends a chilling message to immigrant communities nationwide,” she said.
Despite these concerns, there is no evidence that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted raids at any religious institutions, including Sikh gurdwaras, under the revised policy. ICE has not issued any press releases mentioning enforcement actions in New York or New Jersey over the weekend.
As the Sikh community continues to foster dialogue and collaboration with local and federal officials, leaders stress the importance of verifying facts before spreading unsubstantiated rumors. Both Nijjar and Singh emphasized that maintaining strong relationships with government representatives has been a cornerstone of the community’s approach, ensuring mutual respect and understanding.
While the policy shift by DHS has drawn criticism from various religious and civil rights organizations, Sikh leaders reiterated that no enforcement actions have taken place in their places of worship, and they remain committed to serving their communities with openness and integrity.
