WASHINGTON (April 23, 2026) — The Sikh Coalition has issued a nationwide call to action urging the community and allies to stand against a newly proposed rule by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that targets hardworking asylum seekers. A copy of the written release, originally issued on April 21, is available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN).
The proposed rule aims to impose severe administrative hurdles on individuals seeking refuge in the United States, specifically restricting their ability to secure employment while their legal applications are pending. According to the organization’s statement, “Its ultimate effect is to make it much harder to apply for asylum and work while an asylum application is being processed.”
Highlighting a staggering potential consequence of the policy, the Sikh Coalition warned that, based on current application backlogs, “USCIS would stop issuing any new work authorization for asylum seekers for sometime between 14 and 173 years.”
The civil rights organization emphasized the historical and ongoing importance of the asylum process for the Sikh diaspora. “The Sikh community knows firsthand the value of the international human right to claim asylum,” the release stated. Noting that Sikhs have persevered through systemic violence and discrimination, the statement referenced the 1984 Sikh Genocide and the subsequent ‘Decade of Disappearances’ in Punjab as periods when many Sikhs sought sanctuary in the United States.
The need for such protections remains urgent today. The Sikh Coalition pointed out that “Even today, the threat of transnational repression from the government in Delhi underscores the value of the protections that the United States can offer for the inherent rights and freedoms of all people.”
Warning that the implementation of this rule will leave vulnerable populations without security during a “time of profound global instability,” the organization is pushing for immediate public pushback.
The Sikh Coalition has provided a free advocacy tool allowing individuals to seamlessly submit public comments opposing the rule before the fast-approaching deadline this Friday, April 24. While pre-written text is available, the organization encourages users to personalize their submissions by sharing their own stories.
The Sikh Coalition confirmed it will be submitting its own formal public comment in opposition to the rule and will continue to provide updates to the community as the situation develops.
