Sikh Community in New York Denies Reports of Immigration Raids at Gurdwaras

Leaders from the Sikh community in New York have refuted reports of immigration raids at gurdwaras in the region, calling them inaccurate. Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, dismissed claims of raids or visits by immigration or law enforcement agencies, stating that no such actions had occurred at any gurdwaras in New York or New Jersey.

Sukhjinder Singh Nijjar, a representative of the Sikh Cultural Society, confirmed that prayer services were held without disruption at the Richmond Hill Gurdwara, a major Sikh center in New York. He attributed the misreporting to “misunderstanding and miscommunication,” emphasizing that rumors were being spread without factual basis. Nijjar further assured that no law enforcement agencies had interfered with services at other gurdwaras.

Both Nijjar and Singh expressed the Sikh community’s strong relationship with government representatives at various levels, including the Justice Department and the White House. Singh highlighted the community’s continued contributions to local life, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its commitment to service.

This clarification comes amid broader concerns over a policy change by the Trump administration, which allowed immigration officers to enter schools and churches for arrests. Although this policy has been criticized by religious organizations, including the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), no raids have been conducted at places of worship under this new rule.

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