By Randall Yip, Executive Editor

Two Sikh American organizations say news reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up at gurdwuras Sunday appear to be erroneous.

Both the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Sikh Youth Alliance say they’ve found no evidence of ICE agents asking for proof of citizenship at gurdwuras.

Attributing the information to multiple news organizations in the Indian American community, AsAmNews reported Monday that ICE went to services Sunday seeking undocumented immigrants in both New York and New Jersey.

“I met yesterday with all the leaders of NJ gurdwuras and our communication manager reached out to NY gurdwuras,” Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of SALDEF said in a phone interview with AsAmNews. “As far as we know, there’s been no ICE presence at Gurdwuras.”

In an email to AsAmNews, the Sikh Youth Alliance said its own investigation reached the same conclusion.

“The gurdwara representatives from both states are not aware of any such ICE raids,” said Bhupindar Singh, outreach lead with the group.

Singh bluntly called the multiple reports “fake news and information run by the Indian government.” Singh did not elaborate, nor did he return a call for further comment.

SALDEF, however, still stands by its earlier comments condemning a change in policy by Homeland Security rescinding a Biden policy that sensitive areas such as churches and gurdwuras are off limits.

“The safety of our gurdwaras and congregations is of paramount importance, and it is essential that we do not allow fear to undermine the sanctity of these sacred spaces,” it said in an updated statement released this morning.

AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.

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