Sikhs in America: Law, Belonging, and the Pursuit of Equality

Sikhs have lived in the United States for more than a century, arriving first in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Drawn by economic opportunity and shaped by a faith rooted in equality, service, and justice, early Sikh immigrants quickly became part of the American workforce while also confronting laws and social structures that excluded them on the basis of race and religion.

One of the earliest and most consequential legal challenges brought by a Sikh American was that of Bhagat Singh Thind, a U.S. Army veteran who sought citizenship at a time when naturalization laws limited eligibility based on race. In United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind (1923), the Supreme Court ruled that Thind did not qualify for citizenship under those laws. While the decision itself was exclusionary, the case exposed the arbitrary nature of racial classifications in immigration law and became part of the broader legal and political reckoning that eventually led to more inclusive citizenship policies.

That arc toward inclusion continued in 1957, when Dalip Singh Saund was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Sikh, Indian American, and Asian American to serve in Congress. His election reflected a meaningful shift in American civic life, signaling that immigrants and religious minorities could not only claim a place in the nation, but also help govern it.

In the decades since, Sikh Americans have continued to contribute to the legal profession and public service. Former NJ Attorney General Gurbir Singh Grewal, the first Sikh American Attorney General in U.S. history, and Judge Neetu Badhan-Smith, the first Sikh woman judge in the United States, are among those whose careers reflect growing representation in positions of legal leadership. Alongside these individual achievements, organizations such as the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and the Sikh Coalition have played an important role in protecting civil rights, securing religious accommodations, and addressing discrimination through advocacy and litigation.

Those same commitments are reflected in the work of legal professionals today. Raj Goomer, a partner at the firm, has advanced these values through his service as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of SALDEF and as a founding Board Member of the Sikh National Bar Association, supporting efforts to promote equity and inclusion within the legal system.

The Sikh American experience illustrates how progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion has often been driven by individuals willing to challenge exclusion and work within the law to expand access, representation, and fairness—for their communities and for society as a whole.

Raj is a Partner in our Transactional law group and focuses his practice in commercial and governmental matters. He can be contacted at rgoomer@hoaglandlongo.com or (732) 545-4717.