A Guide to Temple Safety and Security About HAF

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is a non-profit advocacy organization for the Hindu American community. Founded in 2003, HAF’s work impacts a range of issues—from the portrayal of in K-12 textbooks to civil and human rights to addressing contemporary problems, such as environmental protection and inter-religious conflict, by applying Hindu philosophy. Why Do We Need This Guide

At more than three million strong, the Hindu American community is one of the fastest growing American religious communities. While most are of South Asian origin, the Hindu American community includes individuals of Caribbean, African, South American, Southeast Asian, and Caucasian descent. To maintain a connection to their faith, the Hindu American community relies on a network of nearly 1000 temples spread out over 45 states. These temples, varied and diverse in their practices, serve as spiritual centers, community nexuses, and cultural hubs. The growth and resilience of Hindu temples mirrors that of the community itself.

However, as they grow more visible, Hindu temples face unique challenges, ranging from hostility of surrounding communities and government bureaucracy to hate crimes and violence. This guide was created by the Hindu American Foundation to serve as a resource for leaders, enabling them to navigate these challenges, and maintain a vibrant, active, and secure temple community.

Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 1 Hate Crimes

The Hindu American community has a long history of being targeted for hate crimes. From the “dotbuster gangs” that attacked Hindu men and women wearing tilak during the 1980s to the recent attack on a Kentucky , the community has sought to combat hate crimes effectively. Due to their visibility and prominence, Hindu temples are particularly attractive targets for hate crimes.. ❱❱ Anti-Property Defining Hate Crimes • Vandalism Hate crimes or “bias” crimes • Arson are crimes motivated by the • Graffiti perpetrator’s bias against a • Trespassing particular group of people on the basis of race, , national Making threats against a origin, sex, sexual orientation, religious institution is also a age, or disability. Hate crimes federal crime and if that threat are simultaneously impersonal results in damage or destruction and fundamentally personal. to religious property, criminal They are impersonal because penalties will be imposed. the perpetrator usually does not The key factor in identifying a know the victim and commits the hate crime is the fact that the crime against him/her because perpetrator was motivated, in he/she was simply the first part or in whole, by the victim’s African American, Muslim, Hindu, actual or perceived characteristic. etc. person the perpetrator came In identifying hate crimes, across. And yet, these crimes are investigators can look to many fundamentally personal because factors including: the victim was attacked because of a foundational part of his or her ❱❱ Identifying characteristics identity. Therefore, both because of victim or property hate crimes are more difficult to ❱❱ Perpetrator’s statements deter and because they inflict ❱❱ Perpetrator’s actions greater harm on the victim, nearly ❱❱ Perpetrator’s previous history every State punishes hate crimes more harshly. A key point is that the perpetrator’s perception controls the designation of a hate crime. Identifying Hate If an individual or property is Crimes targeted by a perpetrator with an anti-Hindu bias, the individual’s Hate crimes can be directed or property’s actual religious against individuals, groups, and affiliation is irrelevant. both real and personal property. Hate crimes can take many forms Additionally, not all crimes including: targeting Hindu temples are hate crimes. If a temple is targeted for ❱❱ Anti-Individual/Group theft and vandalism, and there • Physical assault/battery is no evidence suggesting that • Verbal harassment/threats the crime was motivated by an

Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 3 anti-Hindu bias, then the crimes • If possible, install security are not treated as hate crimes. cameras and a monitored For example, the 2014 vandalism alarm system of the Vishwa Bhavan Hindu 2. Develop a Proactive Mandir in Monroe, Georgia was Relationship with Law not prosecuted as a hate crime Enforcement because the perpetrators had • Connect with your local law also targeted a nearby and enforcement agency BEFORE parking lot, and as such, there an incident occurs (see was no evidence that they were Engaging the Community motivated by anti-Hindu animus. below for details) • Invite Law Enforcement Preventing Hate representatives to temple events Crimes and Active 3. Create a Contingency Plan Shooter Incidents for Incidents • Develop the contingency In 2013, thanks to the efforts of plan in conjunction with law the Hindu American Foundation enforcement and other activists, the FBI • Ensure that the plan has agreed to begin federal tracking clearly delineated tasks, and of anti-Hindu hate crimes. The responsibilities goal of such tracking, which began in 2015, is to prevent and • Train temple staff and volunteers be better prepared for future on the contingency plan incidents of bias-motivated • Print out and visibly post violence. The unfortunate reality the Active Shooter - How is that such attacks may not to Respond Poster on the be completely preventable or temple premises: https://www. predictable, but temples can dhs.gov/sites/default/files/ implement protocols to better publications/active-shooter- prepare and protect its members poster-2017-508.pdf in the event a hate crime or active 4. Work with Other Religious Bodies shooter incident does occur by • Reach out to other temples, following basic steps: churches, , and 1. Evaluate Vulnerabilities of to learn from their Temple Premises security protocols. Create a • Conduct a thorough check of relationship with these entities doors, windows, and locks, to share information and to ensure that they all work helpful tips After reporting incidents to law Responding to Hate enforcement, please help us Crimes by filling out HAF’s Anti-Hindu Hate and Hinduphobia Incident If your temple is targeted for a Reporting Form: hate crime or a hate incident, it is https://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/ important to report the incident report-bias-motivated-crimes immediately. While the temptation to ignore minor vandalism is significant, it is essential that all Resources incidents, no matter how minor, are reported. Law enforcement The Hindu American Foundation’s cannot respond to crimes unless “Know Your Rights” Guide: they have a full record of all the http://hafsite.org/sites/default/ incidents that have occurred. files/HAF_KnowYour%20Rights_ Expanded.pdf When reporting the incident, be sure to give a full and complete The Hindu American Foundation’s description of the incident, the “Countering Hate: Guide for Hate damage, and any information about Crime Victims:” the perpetrators, if available. https://www.hafsite.org/sites/ default/files/HAFN_17_013- After making a report, please ask HateCrime2Pager_r4_web.pdf for the officer’s information, and follow up with the appropriate officer The Hindu American Foundation’s regularly on the progress of the case. Hate Crimes and Domestic Terror Strike Preparedness Resources: We also request that you help us in https://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/ tracking incidents of identity-based hate-crimes-and-domestic-terror- or bias-motivated intimidation, strike-preparedness threats, harassment, and violence being experienced in our Federal Emergency Management communities. The more data we Agency (FEMA): have about such incidents, the https://www.fema.gov/faith- better we will be able to work resources with the appropriate authorities, Federal Bureau of Investigation: agencies, civil rights advocates, https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/ and other stakeholders to civil-rights/hate-crimes identify areas of particular concern and ensure the safety Department of Justice, Community and security of the community. Relations Service: https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes

Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 5 Immigration

For a Hindu temple to function effectively, it needs qualified religious workers. Most Hindu temples meet their staff needs by hiring religious workers trained in , who enter the under an R-1 Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Worker Visa or the EB-4 Special Immigrant Non- Minister provision in the Religious Worker Visa Program. As Hindu Americans do not have the facilities to train religious workers domestically, virtually all Hindu religious workers come in under one of these provisions of the Religious Worker Visa program. Such dependence makes it essential for temples to understand how to navigate the American immigration system. would also not be impacted by an The Religious Worker end to the EB-4 Special Immigrant Visa Program visa program for Non-Ministers.

The EB-4 Special Immigrant The Religious Worker Visa provision in the Religious Worker program, as currently construed, Visa Program, enacted by is divided into two provisions: Congress in 1990, is the primary the Minister and Non-Minister avenue by which many foreign provision. Each provision allows religious workers coming to the temples to sponsor different U.S. can apply for permanent categories of workers. resident status, while the R-1 The Minister provision Temporary Nonimmigrant provides visas to persons Religious Worker Visa allows authorized by a recognized temples to sponsor religious religious denomination to conduct workers to work in the U.S. on a religious services. A minister temporary basis. must have a license, certificate, The EB-4 Special Immigrant or other formal recognition from a visa program for Non-Ministers qualified religion, which qualifies is continuously at risk of being them to conduct religious discontinued, if it is not extended services. For temples, this by Congress. The law allows provision may cover: these workers to immigrate or ❱❱ Acharyas (religious teachers) adjust to permanent resident by a ❱❱ Brahmachari/Brahmachirini certain date. Non-Minister special (student ) immigrant religious workers include ❱❱ Swami/Swamini (monks) those within a religious vocation or occupation engaged in either a The Non-Minister provision professional or non- professional covers all religious workers that capacity. If the program ends, it do not qualify as ministers. For applies to accompanying spouses temples, this provision may cover: and children of these Non-Minister ❱❱ / (Hindu priest) Special Immigrant religious workers ❱❱ Paricharakara as well. Special Immigrants entering (religious food preparer) the U.S. solely for the purpose of carrying on the vocation of a ❱❱ Sthapati (religious architect) Minister, and their accompanying ❱❱ Shilpi (religious artisan) spouses and children, are not ❱❱ Religious Artists affected by this program. The R-1 ❱❱ Religious Jewelers Temporary Religious Worker visa

Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 7 Immigration Resources Enforcement Raids Descriptions of Hindu Religious Places of worship, including Workers: http://hafsite.org/media/ temples are considered pr/religious-worker-definitions “sensitive locations” and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Immigration Customs and Services R-1 Temporary Enforcement (ICE) agents will Nonimmigrant Religious Workers: not conduct immigration raids/ https://www.uscis.gov/ enforcement actions at these working-united-states/ locations unless: temporary-workers/r-1- ❱❱ Exigent (emergency) temporary-religious-workers/r-1- circumstances exist temporary-nonimmigrant- ❱❱ Other law enforcement actions religious-workers have led officers to the temple, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ❱❱ Prior approval is obtained Services EB-4 Special Immigrant from a designated supervisory Religious Workers: official at the temple https://www.uscis.gov/working- united-states/permanent-workers/ A temple can file a complaint employment-based-immigration- about a particular ICE fourth-preference-eb-4/special- enforcement action that may immigrant-religious-workers have taken place in violation of the sensitive locations policy U.S. Immigration and Customs by contacting ICE Enforcement Enforcement FAQ on Sensitive and Removal Operations (ERO) Locations: through the Detention Reporting https://www.ice.gov/ero/ and Information Line at (888) enforcement/sensitive-loc 351-4024 or through the ERO information email address at [email protected], also available at https://www.ice.gov/ webform/ero-contact-form. The Civil Liberties Division of the ICE Office of Diversity and Civil Rights may be contacted at (202) 732-0092 or [email protected]. Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 9 Right to Public Access

The U.S. Constitution guarantees all American citizens the right to free exercise of their religion. This same provision protects Hindu temples against arbitrary and hostile government action, while enabling devotees to continue to maintain a spiritual connection to their faith. In addition to the right to worship, temples, like all other Engaging the organizations, retain a right to Community associate in conjunction with their message. This means Community engagement and that temples can develop a outreach are critical for all community around a message temples. Temples must seek to it intends to convey. This right maintain a connection with the includes the right to exclude communities that they stand in, those who do not share the including with local residents, message. For example, a temple and interfaith leaders. Temples is not obligated to provide can maintain such connections booth/table space to Indian through: Christian missionaries and can ❱❱ Keeping all temple events open ask them to leave. to individuals of all faiths and traditions Thus, at temple events and assemblies, they can exclude ❱❱ Encouraging local community individuals and groups whose members and interfaith leaders to presence affects the temple’s attend temple events ability to represent its views. This ❱❱ Creating and/or providing can include: visitors with a guide on what to ❱❱ Disruptive individuals expect when visiting a temple ❱❱ Individuals engaged in ❱❱ Being respectful of local noise harassment of temple patrons and nuisance ordinances ❱❱ Individuals engaged in religious ❱❱ Maintaining a tradition of conversion seva or service in the local community ❱❱ Groups seeking a goal that is contrary to the temple mission ❱❱ Groups seeking to undermine Engaging Law temple interests Enforcement

Maintaining a secure temple Public Engagement environment involves developing a strong relationship with law A temple primarily serves a enforcement. To engage with religious function, but also exists your local law enforcement, as a community entity. As such, temples should engage in the one of the most vital roles of a following steps: temple leader is to maintain strong relations with the local community. ❱❱ Identify your local law enforcement agency: If the

Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 11 temple is located inside the offices have community limits of a municipality, then relations offices in charge of the local police force has engaging the local community. jurisdiction over the temple. If it is not in a municipality, then the county sheriff has jurisdiction Engaging Elected ❱❱ Contact your law Officials enforcement agency’s All temples are represented by community relations office a wide variety of elected public ❱❱ Ask the agency to conduct a figures. Most temples will fall visit of the temple to evaluate under the constituency of the the overall security following elected officials: ❱❱ Ask law enforcement officials ❱❱ Governor: chief executive of to give on-site presentations on the state in which the temple how to deal with emergencies is located and hate crimes ❱❱ Senator: representative of the ❱❱ Invite law enforcement to state in which the temple is temple events and functions located in the U.S. Senate ❱❱ Attend any seminars, webinars, ❱❱ Congressman/woman: and trainings on preventing representative of the district hate crimes offered by the in which the temple is agency and/or the Department located in the U.S. House of of Home Security. Representatives Download free sources from ❱❱ State Senator: representative of https://www.fema.gov./faith- the district in which the temple resources# is located in the state Senate ❱❱ Temple administrators should ❱❱ State Representative: contact law enforcement ahead representative of the district of major festivals to request in which the temple is additional security located in the state House of Additionally, temples can also Representatives engage with their local U.S. ❱❱ Mayor: chief executive of the Attorney’s office regarding hate , town, or municipality in crime issues. U.S. Attorneys are which the temple is located federal prosecutors appointed ❱❱ City Councilman: legislator of by the President. Their offices the city, town, or municipality in prosecute all federal hate which the temple is located crimes. Most U.S. Attorney In all engagement with elected ❱❱ Participating among faith- officials, temples must remain in based advisory councils set up compliance with the restriction by the officials on political activity by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. As such, temples must refrain from: Resources ❱❱ Endorsing political candidates IRS Tax Guide for Churches & ❱❱ Spending money on Religious Organizations: political campaigns http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/ ❱❱ Lobbying in state or p1828.pdf federal initiatives Find Your Congressman: Nevertheless, temples can http://www.house.gov/ permissibly engage elected representatives/find/ officials by: Find Your US Attorney: ❱❱ Inviting them and/or their https://www.justice.gov/usao/ representatives to temple find-your-united-states-attorney functions and events in their capacity as an elected official ❱❱ If an elected official/political candidate is invited to speak at an organization event in his or her capacity as a political candidate for elected office, the temple must take steps to ensure that: • It provides an equal opportunity to participate to all political candidates seeking the same office • It does not indicate any support for or opposition to any candidate (including candidate introductions and in communications concerning any candidate’s attendance); and • No political fundraising occurs.

Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 13 For more information please visit www.HAFsite.org

HAF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Cover photo by Steven Garner via Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/sgerner/8629550062/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.