RAMADAN IN AMERICA

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For US Muslims, immigration crackdown fears, new war worries and anti-Muslim rhetoric cloud Ramadan  Muslims across the United States are observing Ramadan under rising fears tied to immigration raids, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and war in the Middle East. Community members in places like Paterson, New Jersey, and Minneapolis say many are striving to maintain the Ramadan spirit while grappling with a myriad of concerns affecting their communities. Read more.

Why this matters: Paterson’s Palestinian community — one of the largest outside the Middle East — had been grieving loved ones and trying to help the survivors of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza even before the latest anxiety-fueling developments.   In Minnesota, where many people are reeling from the recent large-scale immigration crackdown, Ramadan came amid a powerful mix of emotion. Even after withdrawal of most of the immigration officers, some Muslims remain cautious about venturing out, even to attend prayers at their mosque.   Coinciding with Ramadan, some Muslim groups have issued know-your-rights guidance for navigating immigration enforcement interactions, including for mosques.

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