Key Update as of January 27, 2025: The Sikh Coalition has included in our immigration resources information about the legal right to film ICE and other federal immigration agents. In light of recent events, it is critical to recognize two points. 

First, the filming of these officers is incredibly valuable to our society, especially as these agents act more aggressively. We simply would not know the truth about recent killings by ICE and CPB agents if not for video footage. Second, however, the increasingly aggressive conduct of these agents—and the lack of oversight or consequences from the Trump Administration or Congress—makes even the peaceful exercise of one’s constitutional rights extremely dangerous. 

Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed while exercising their legal rights; others have been harassed, harmed, and detained for the same. The Sikh Coalition urges all sangat members to exercise extreme caution when around armed federal agents.

Background

The Sikh Coalition does not provide direct legal services on individual immigration or asylum cases. Before 2025, much of our previous work in the immigration space was built around legal and advocacy efforts to protect the religious and civil rights of Sikhs detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Learn more about that work here.

In 2025, we identified a need for current, tailored, simple, and translated immigration resources for the U.S.-based Sikh community. At the same time, we began to scale our advocacy work around just and humane immigration policies in keeping with our organizational values and positions dating back several years. To learn more about why and how we are undertaking immigration advocacy work, review our Policy Principles and Community FAQ. 

Please note that none of the resources on this page constitute formal legal advice.

Resources

“Know Your Rights: Immigration and ICE Summary”

English PDF | Punjabi PDF | English/Punjabi Graphic | English/Punjabi Postcard

This simple, one page document covers only essential, high-level guidance and is written in clear language designed to be accessible to as many sangat members as possible. 

“Know Your Rights: Immigration” 

Google Document (Good For Copying and Pasting) English | Punjabi 

Digital Version (Good for Viewing Online) English| Punjabi

This comprehensive document explains who enforces immigration policy in the United States, provides suggestions of what to do if ICE comes to your home or workplace, advises of your rights if ICE attempts to arrest you, offers resources and best practices in case you or someone you love is detained, addresses immigration status-based harassment, and lists additional resources. It exists as a Google Doc so that we can easily update it as policies continue to change.

“Know Your Rights: Immigration Guidance for Gurdwarae” 

Google Document (Good For Copying and Pasting) English | Punjabi 

Digital Version (Good for Viewing Online) English | Punjabi 

This document is intended especially for gurdwara leadership and committees. It explores the complexities around when and how ICE can enter gurdwarae and other houses of worship, offers resources and best practices in case a sangat member is detained, provides suggestions on gurdwara security, and lists additional resources. It exists as a Google Doc so that we can easily update it as policies continue to change.

Community Flyers (Good For Printing) 

Community FAQ: New Registration Requirements for Non-Citzens

Based on an executive order signed by President Trump, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that certain “aliens” (non-U.S. citizens) must be registered and fingerprinted with the U.S. government. This registration process will go into effect on April 11, 2025, but many immigrants—including those who have green cards—are already considered registered. Read our Community FAQ and consult an attorney to determine how this rule may affect you

Community FAQ: Green Card Holders’ Rights

This resource walks through the basic rights and responsibilities of green card holders in the United States as well as answers general questions such as grounds for deportation and advice for documentation. It also includes a significant portion providing guidance for concerns around international travel.

English | Punjabi

Suggested Partner Resources

Advocacy Work

In January of 2025, the Trump Administration announced the rescission of previous Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy guidance that prohibited immigration raids and other enforcement actions at “sensitive locations,” including houses of worship like gurdwarae. In response, the Sikh Coalition:

  • Published a detailed explanation about our views on this issue and how in person worship without fear is essential to the practice of Sikhi. 
  • Worked with Democracy Forward, an organization bringing a suit against the U.S. government, to find a gurdwara that would join the lawsuit on behalf of sangats opposing this policy change.  
  • Joined 750+ organizations to endorse the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (S.455 / H.R.1061), which would reinstate the previous DHS guidance as law.