The removal of restrictions preventing ICE from conducting raids in sensitive locations, including houses of worship, has sparked anxiety among Sikh communities across the US. Many are concerned about increased scrutiny and potential raids, leading to a decline in attendance at gurdwaras and fears of forgoing essential services offered within these sacred spaces.
Sikh community members said they have already seen how anxieties around immigration have impeded the way in which some, including naturalized citizens, practice their faith., hundreds of members of a Sikh temple in New York have stopped attending services regularly. Another gurdwara, or temple, in West Sacramento, California, has been fielding a half dozen calls daily from members fearful of immigration raids.
Thandi also said while the gurdwara provides food throughout the day, he’s noticed that around 100 or so people have shifted their meal times, opting to eat during less crowded hours, rather than join in the typical post-service lunch. He thinks the shift may be in order to avoid any potential encounters with ICE.
There are an estimated 500,000 Sikhs and more than 350 gurdwaras across the country, according to the Sikh Coalition, a national civil rights nonprofit. The group, who first arrived in the U.S. in the 1800s, have largely made homes in New York and California. But other areas have also become major cultural hubs, including Chicago, Oklahoma City and Dallas. While there’s no specific data on undocumented Sikhs, there are roughly 725,000 Indian undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
“Traffic is down in businesses,” Toor said. “Businesses are complaining about it. Traffic is down in places of worship, whether it is mosque or gurdwara.”
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