A minor collects agents’ names and badge numbers as his uncle and grandfather, who are documented immigrants but have prior convictions, are detained by U.S. Immigrations and Customs (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents at a Home Depot parking lot in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., January 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

Law enforcement officials from the US Department of Homeland Security have started visiting gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey to check for the presence of illegal immigrants, drawing a sharp reaction from some Sikh organisations which see such actions as a threat to the sanctity of their faith.

Some of the gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey are believed to be used as a hub by Sikh separatists along with illegal and undocumented immigrants.

Within hours of Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman in a directive rescinded the Biden administration’s guidelines for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement actions that thwart law enforcement in or near so-called “sensitive” areas.

These “sensitive” areas included places of worship like gurdwaras and churches.

“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murders and rapists—who have illegally come into our country,” a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,” the spokesperson said.

In a statement, the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDF) expressed grave concern over the 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,” SALDF said.

“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.

Ms. Gill said gurdwaras are not just places of worship; they are vital community centres 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,” Ms. Gill said.

Sikh Coalition said the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the DHS policy on “protected areas” (which also included hospitals, schools, social service providers, and more) opens the door to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting surveillance, investigations, arrests, and raids at gurdwaras.”

“The idea that our gurdwaras could be subject to government surveillance and raids by armed law enforcement with or without warrants is unacceptable to the Sikh faith tradition. It will burden religious exercise by limiting the ability of Sikhs to gather and associate with one another in accordance with our faith,” Sikh Coalition said.

“It also harkens to dark periods in our collective memory when governments interfered in the ability of Sikhs to practice our faith freely—with deadly consequences,” it said.

“If Sikhs—whether documented or undocumented—are concerned with gurdwara raids and surveillance, gurdwaras may well be impacted by decreased attendance, and thus an inability to carry out essential religious practices in a meaningful manner,” said Sikh Coalition.

Renowned cybersecurity expert Amit Yoran, 54, died on Friday after a battle with cancer, his company Tenable Holdings said in a press release. In early December, Mr Yoran announced he would temporarily step aside as CEO of the publicly traded company after learning that he would need additional cancer treatment, which had initially been disclosed in March 2024.

“Amit was not only a visionary leader but also a guiding force who profoundly impacted our industry, company, culture, and community. Under his leadership, Tenable achieved significant milestones, and he inspired each one of us with his dedication, passion, and commitment to make a difference. Amit leaves behind an incredible legacy as a visionary, leader, colleague, mentor, brother, father, and friend. He touched the lives of so many within and beyond our company and he will be missed. We understand that this news may come as a shock, and we encourage you to take the time to process this difficult loss,” Tenable said in the statement.

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During Mr Yoran’s temporary leave, Tenable Holdings’ board of directors appointed CFO Steve Vintz and COO Mark Thurmond to serve as co-CEOs. Following his death, the company announced that Vintz and Thurmond will continue to lead Tenable in their co-CEO roles while the board searches for a permanent CEO.

About Amit Yoran

Mr Yoran, a highly respected cybersecurity expert, had a distinguished career spanning multiple industries and roles. He served as the CEO of Tenable from 2016 to 2023, leading the company’s growth and its successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2018. Before joining Tenable, Yoran held various leadership positions, including president of RSA Security and founder of NetWitness, a threat detection and response platform.

His expertise in cybersecurity also led him to co-found Riptech Inc. in 1998, a company that utilised sensor networks to protect government and corporate computers from cyber threats. His impressive track record and knowledge in the field earned him a notable appointment as the director of the National Cyber Security Division at the US Department of Homeland Security in 2003, a position he held for a year, as per CNN. 

He was frequently sought after as a commentator on cable news outlets, including CNN. One notable appearance was in March 2023, where he shared his insights on the potential US government ban on TikTok due to data collection concerns.