Trump Demands Synagogues Open Doors to ICE
A vital security program – one that Jewish nonprofits, synagogues, and community centers rely on to protect our institutions from antisemitic threats – has been warped by the Trump administration into a tool to further politicize Jewish safety.
Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has updated terms for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which funds critical security upgrades such as cameras, reinforced doors, bulletproof glass, safety training, and guards for Jewish spaces. Now, receiving funds for the NSGP may be conditional on cooperation with Trump’s extreme political agenda. Specifically, Jewish institutions must cooperate with ICE and ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Trump is telling Jewish Americans that if we don’t support his extreme policies, we don’t deserve to be safe. This is appalling, especially as violent antisemitic attacks are on the rise. Tell your elected officials that Jewish Americans reject Trump’s attempts to politicize our security. We reject political requirements for security funds. We just want to keep Jewish spaces safe.
Trump’s authoritarian takeover of our country is impacting the safety of Jewish Americans. First, he froze NSGP funding for months, risking our security. Then, he cut the total amount for NSGP funding, again risking our security. Now, he’s requiring acquiescence with his agenda to receive NSGP funding, because Jewish security clearly isn’t the priority for Trump and this White House. Forcing compliance with his political agenda is the priority, and we refuse to be complicit.
Thank you for standing with us in defense of Jewish values and security. Together, we must – and will – fight for a future where dignity, justice, and safety go hand in hand.
In solidarity,
Halie Soifer
CEO, Jewish Democratic Council of America