The United States is facing a troubling reality regarding hate crimes against Sikh Americans. According to federal data, public statements, and legislative records, Sikh Americans are disproportionately targeted, despite representing less than one per cent of the national population. On August 5, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released its 2024 Hate Crime Statistics, showing that Sikh Americans were the third most-targeted religious group in the country, behind only Jewish and Muslim communities. In 2024 alone, 153 anti-Sikh victimisations were recorded, with 142 individual incidents reported to the FBI. These figures highlight the vulnerability of Sikh Americans, yet government officials acknowledge that they reflect only a small fraction of the true scale of bias-motivated violence.
The former FBI Director testified before Congress on November 15, 2023, admitting that hate crimes against Sikh Americans are “chronically underreported.” Because reporting is voluntary, many law enforcement agencies submit zero incidents, a number that reflects systemic undercounting rather than the actual absence of hate crimes. This recognition has been codified in federal law through the Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act of 2026 (H.R. 7100), which cites the Director’s testimony directly and instructs federal agencies to strengthen their response to anti-Sikh bias. The legislation marks a historic acknowledgement by Congress that the government’s official data cannot fully capture the scope of violence and discrimination facing Sikh Americans.
The Department of Justice has taken a firm stance against hate-fueled threats. Following the 2025 conviction of a Texas man who targeted employees of a Sikh American advocacy group, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Kaur Dhillon publicly stated that the DOJ has “no tolerance for hate-fueled threats of violence in our country.” The Department also holds quarterly interagency meetings with Sikh community leaders to discuss ongoing threats and protective measures. Federal indictments in 2023 and 2024, involving a foreign-backed assassination plot targeting a Sikh American, further underscore the seriousness of the threat and the need for proactive federal action.
Congressional leaders have repeatedly voiced the importance of protecting Sikh Americans and improving hate crime reporting. Members of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, including Congressman John Garamendi, Congressman David Valadao, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer, emphasised the need for accurate data, stronger law enforcement response, and national coordination to combat anti-Sikh bias. Their statements underline the bipartisan recognition that the safety of Sikh Americans must be prioritised.
The White House has also recognised the urgency of the issue. In December 2024, it released the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia, which explicitly named Sikh Americans as a community requiring federal protection. This recognition reflects a growing understanding at the highest level of government that Sikhs, despite being a small minority, face persistent threats and discrimination that demand systematic intervention.
H.R. 7100 also formally records one of the deadliest anti-Sikh attacks in U.S. history: the 2012 Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting, in which a white supremacist killed six worshippers. This acknowledgement is paired with other federal initiatives, such as the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act (H.R. 2588), which compels law enforcement agencies to submit accurate data and funds training to identify and report hate crimes. Collectively, these measures reflect a national effort to address anti-Sikh violence comprehensively.
Taken together, FBI statistics, DOJ statements, Congressional testimony, and White House strategies demonstrate that Sikh Americans are among the most targeted religious minorities in the United States. The real extent of violence and discrimination is likely far greater than official numbers suggest. Federal agencies, lawmakers, and Sikh community leaders continue to call for immediate, coordinated action to protect this vulnerable community and ensure that hate has no place in American society.