NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Bridgewater, N.J., February 10, 2026: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted an early-morning operation at a Sikh gurdwara in Bridgewater, New Jersey, according to Sikh community leaders and advocacy groups. No arrests were reported, but the incident has triggered concern and anxiety within the American Sikh community.
The incident was first publicly disclosed by Japneet Singh, president of the Khalsa Community Patrol, a Sikh community safety organization. In a post shared on Instagram, Singh said he received multiple messages about a possible raid and subsequently confirmed the information with Sikh leadership in New Jersey.
According to Singh, ICE agents entered the gurdwara at approximately 2:30 a.m., searched rooms within the premises, and checked the identification or immigration status of individuals present. He said no arrests were made.
The account was corroborated by the Sikh Press Association, which confirmed that an ICE operation took place inside a New Jersey gurdwara. The exact date has not been publicly confirmed by authorities.
Sikh advocates say the incident is particularly troubling because gurdwaras serve not only as places of worship but also as community centers where religious musicians (raagis), volunteers (sevadaars), and congregants may remain on site overnight. Singh noted that preliminary information suggested a door may have been left unlocked, allowing agents to enter the premises.
“Every gurdwara must ensure the protection of their raagis, congregants, and sevadaars,” Singh wrote, urging Sikh institutions across the country to remain vigilant.
The incident comes amid heightened concern over immigration enforcement under the administration of Donald Trump, which has expanded ICE’s enforcement authority and rescinded prior guidance that limited operations at so-called “sensitive locations,” including places of worship.
Photo credit: GSSA – Bridgewater Gurdwara.
