On December 6, 2025, the political landscape between India, the United Kingdom, and the United States found itself entangled in a web of controversy and high-stakes security concerns, as the separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) called on President Donald Trump to impose sweeping travel restrictions on Indian nationals. The group, which campaigns for an independent Sikh state known as Khalistan, alleged that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses a "public safety and national security threat" to Americans, according to a letter sent to the White House. Their demands, which they say align with the "America First" agenda, have sent ripples through diplomatic circles and immigrant communities alike.
SFJ’s letter to President Trump urged the administration to add India to the United States' list of restricted-entry countries, with a critical caveat: persecuted Sikhs should be exempt. The group argued that Sikh activists and asylum seekers face religious and political persecution under Modi’s government, and thus should not be subject to the same restrictions as other Indian nationals. The request comes in the wake of a series of recent U.S. immigration crackdowns, including the June 2025 announcement of travel bans against 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others, following a firebombing attack in Colorado. Just days before SFJ’s call, immigration applications from nationals of 19 countries facing travel restrictions were halted.
In its letter, SFJ leveled several serious accusations against the Indian government and Indian nationals. The group claimed that Indian outsourcing companies are engaging in "widespread H-1B visa fraud," undermining the job prospects of American tech workers. They also alleged that Indian chemical exporters have been implicated in trafficking fentanyl precursors, citing U.S. federal indictments as evidence. Perhaps most explosively, SFJ asserted that India’s intelligence agencies have been involved in "assassination plots and extremist activities abroad."
These claims have not gone unnoticed in Washington. The citizenship and immigration agency has responded by announcing plans to re-review and re-interview immigrants from the countries under restriction, potentially going as far back as 2021. This heightened scrutiny comes amid growing concerns about national security, especially after a tragic incident less than a week before SFJ’s appeal: two National Guard members were shot while on patrol in Washington, D.C., resulting in one death and one critical injury. The suspect, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. legally during the Biden administration, was granted asylum after President Trump began his second term. He pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday, but the case has fueled further debate about the vetting process for immigrants and asylum seekers.
While the U.S. grapples with these challenges, the United Kingdom has been dealing with its own controversy involving pro-Khalistan groups. On December 4, 2025, HM Treasury announced sanctions against Gurpreet Singh Rehal, a consultant who played a role in the recent takeover of Morecambe Football Club (FC) by Panjab Warriors. Rehal’s alleged links to the pro-Khalistan groups Babbar Khalsa and Babbar Akali Lehar—both designated as international terrorist organizations by the UK—led to the freezing of his UK assets and a ban on serving as a director of any British company.
According to HM Treasury, "Rehal is involved in… promoting and encouraging, carrying out recruitment activities for, providing financial services to as well as supporting and assisting those organisations, including through purchasing weapons and other military material." The Treasury further noted that Babbar Akali Lehar is closely associated with Babbar Khalsa’s terrorist activities.
The sanctions have had immediate repercussions within the football community. Morecambe FC and Panjab Warriors were quick to distance themselves from Rehal, issuing a joint statement clarifying, "An individual who previously held a consultancy role in marketing and communications with our organisations is no longer affiliated with either Morecambe FC or Panjab Warriors. This consultancy position carried no strategic, financial or operational authority, and he had no involvement in the ownership or club decision-making. Following recent serious concerns that have come to light, we took immediate and decisive action, and his association with both organisations has been fully removed."
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby KC MP, underscored the UK’s commitment to tackling terrorism financing, stating, "We will not stand by while terrorists exploit Britain’s financial system. This landmark action shows we are prepared to use every tool at our disposal to choke off funding for terrorism – wherever it occurs and whoever is responsible. The UK stands firmly with peaceful communities against those who promote violence and hatred."
The new Independent Football Regulator (IFR), which was not operational when the Morecambe FC takeover was completed six months prior, has also stepped in. A spokesperson from the IFR said, "We are working with relevant authorities and using our statutory information gathering powers to look into this matter urgently." The regulator’s involvement highlights the growing scrutiny over ownership and financial dealings in English football, especially following a period of instability for Morecambe FC.
Back in August 2025, Morecambe FC fans were "ecstatic" after the Bond Group and Panjab Warriors agreed on the sale that saved the club from collapse. The deal, formally approved by the league’s Club Compliance and Licensing committee on August 17, lifted the club’s suspension from the National League. This followed months of financial turmoil and the threat of expulsion, after Morecambe FC was relegated from League Two during the 2024/25 season for the first time in 18 years. Panjab Warriors had promised stability and a return to form, but the recent revelations about Rehal’s alleged activities have cast a shadow over the club’s future and raised questions about the vetting of individuals involved in such high-profile transactions.
The convergence of these stories—SFJ’s push for U.S. travel restrictions against India, the UK’s sanctions against a figure tied to pro-Khalistan groups, and the ongoing scrutiny of football club ownership—reflects the increasingly complex intersection of national security, immigration policy, and global finance. Each development has its own set of implications: for U.S.-India relations, for the Sikh diaspora, for British football, and for the broader effort to combat terrorism and transnational crime. Policymakers in Washington and London are now under pressure to balance security concerns with the rights of persecuted minorities and the interests of their own citizens.
As governments and regulators on both sides of the Atlantic continue their investigations and policy reviews, communities affected by these measures—be they football fans, immigrants, or religious minorities—are left in a state of uncertainty. The coming months will reveal how these intertwined issues play out, but for now, the world watches as the lines between sports, politics, and security grow ever more blurred.