Muslim housing development under investigation by US government
A Muslim housing development in Texas is under investigation by the Justice Department amid concerns it would 'violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Americans'.
The proposed development, put forward by the East Plano Islamic Centre (Epic), is touted as a 'thriving ecosystem' that 'paves the way for prosperity' and would be centred around a mosque and a private Islamic school.
Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, accused the planner of creating an exclusively Muslim community that would impose Islamic law on residents.
Republican Senator John Cornyn urged Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, to investigate the development, writing: 'A master-planned 'community of thousands of Muslims' could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans, by preventing them from living in this new community and discriminating against them within the community.
'I further encourage the department to investigate whether Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities would receive equal protection under the law in this new community.
'Religious discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, is unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation's values, and I am concerned this community potentially undermines this vital protection.'
Mr Abott had also directed state agencies to probe the development, suggesting the Islamic centre had conducted illegal funerals in its mosque.
Named 'Epic City', developers claim the project will create a 'vibrant, multi-generational and inclusive master planned community'.
The vision is to create a 'safe and purpose-built environment that fosters growth, connection, and prosperity,' its website reads.
Construction has not begun and no permits to begin building the development have been issued, according to the New York Times.
'Epic has done nothing illegal and we will cooperate fully with any and all investigations,' Dan Cogdell, a lawyer for Epic, told the paper.
'Texans would be far better served by the good senator solving real problems and instead of twisting himself into a pretzel over imaginary ones.'
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Your CBD Store and Small Business Owners Call on Governor Abbott to Veto SB 3, Citing Devastating Economic Consequences
Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® urges Texas Governor Greg Abbott to Veto Senate Bill 3 AUSTIN, Texas, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store®, along with its small business hemp retailers across the state, are urging Governor Greg Abbott to veto Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) in account of depriving law-abiding small businesses the opportunity to offer Texans wellness and therapeutic products that foster the Texas economy. Unless Governor Abbott issues a veto against it, SB 3 will ban most hemp-derived cannabinoid products currently sold at over 7,500 licensed retail establishments throughout Texas. Sunmed | Your CBD Stores are owned by independent small businesses that rely on the sale of legal and wellness hemp-derived cannabinoid products to make a living and support their families. Ralph Paul, who owns a Sunmed | Your CBD Store in Keller, Texas, warns: "If SB 3 is signed into law, I'll have no choice but to shut down my businesses. This isn't just about product bans, it's about laying off employees, defaulting on leases, and losing everything we've built. We operate legally and transparently under the Texas Hemp Program. We don't deserve to be collateral damage in a political agenda." Across the state, retailers are bracing for closures. Gary Brandt, owner of a Sunmed | Your CBD Store in Lakeway, Texas, adds: "I've invested my savings, hired local staff, and served customers who depend on our wellness products. This bill doesn't just hurt businesses, it devastates families, communities, and the state's fiscal health. We're urging Governor Abbott to veto SB 3 and stand with small businesses." According to the 2025 Economic Impact of Hemp Cannabinoid Processing and Manufacturing on Texas report by Whitney Economics, the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry is a cornerstone of the Texas economy: 53,300 Texans employed $2.1 billion in wages paid $5.5 billion in revenue generated $267 million in retail sales tax contributed $10–10.5 billion total economic impact The Whitney report underscores that this industry's influence extends beyond storefronts and into rural farming, supply chains, distribution, and manufacturing. Over 8,500 total licenses, spanning retail, wholesale, and manufacturing, will be rendered obsolete. Sunmed | Your CBD Store and its affiliate network support responsible regulation and consumer safety. However, SB 3 amounts to a prohibition and wipes out a thriving, tax-contributing industry that operates under a clear legal framework. Call to ActionWe urge all Texans to oppose SB 3. Contact Governor Abbott and request that he veto this harmful legislation: Call Governor Abbott: (512) 463-2000 Email the Governor: Contact Form Sign the Texas Hemp Business Council Petition: Sign Petition Sign the U.S. Hemp Roundtable Petition: Sign Petition Sunmed stands with small businesses and the Texas communities they serve. We believe in protecting consumer access to safe, effective hemp products and supporting the local entrepreneurs who provide them. Join us in defending our industry, our economy, and our right to choose. Contact Patrick ShatzerSunmed l Your CBD Storecustomersupport@ About Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® Sunmed | Your CBD Store, an affiliate of Sunflora, Inc., is the largest hemp retailer in the United States and the exclusive home of award-winning, hemp-derived Sunmed products. With 260+ nationwide locations across 39 states, the brand offers a premium in-store customer experience with access to 150+ nonpharmaceutical wellness formulas, including clinically proven sleep gummies, pain relief topicals, USDA-organic oil tinctures, and CBD for pets. Through in-store education, community involvement, and groundbreaking clinical research, Sunmed strives to empower modern wellness and enhance people's lives with natural science-backed products. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sunmed
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump travel ban takes effect Monday. What we know
President Donald Trump's new ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries took effect Monday. Dig deeper The Associated Press reported that President Donald Trump's travel ban, which was signed last week, applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don't hold a valid visa. Separately, the travel ban does make exceptions for Afghans on Special Immigrant Visas, typically individuals who worked most closely with the U.S. government during the two-decade-long war there. RELATED: Trump announces travel ban on a dozen countries: Here's what to know This new ban does not cancel visas previously issued to individuals from countries on the list, the AP noted, citing guidance issued last week to all U.S. diplomatic missions. But unless an applicant meets a requirement for an exemption to the travel ban, his or her application will be rejected beginning Monday. Travelers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the U.S. even after the ban takes effect. The AP reported that Trump also connected the new ban to a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, claiming it reinforced the dangers posed by some visitors who overstay visas. U.S. officials told the AP that the man charged in the attack overstayed a tourist visa. He is from Egypt, a country that is not on Trump's restricted list. The backstory During his first term in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. Travelers from those countries were either banned from getting on their flights to the U.S. or detained at U.S. airports after they landed. They included students and faculty as well as businesspeople, tourists and people visiting friends and family. The order, often referred to as the "Muslim ban" or the "travel ban," was revised amid legal challenges, until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The ban impacted multiple categories of travelers and immigrants from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, and Libya, plus North Koreans and some Venezuelan government officials and their families. The Source Information for this story was provided by previous LIVENOW from FOX reporting and the Associated Press, which offers background on the Trump travel ban. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New Trump travel ban takes effect
President Trump's travel ban targeting a dozen countries went into effect on Monday, the latest step by the White House to crack down on the number of individuals entering the U.S. The new policy fully restricts the entry into the United States of nationals from Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also partially restricts entry into the U.S. for nationals coming from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. The policy makes exceptions for nationals from all 19 of those countries who are lawful permanent residents of the United States or existing visa holders and individuals 'whose entry serves U.S. national interests.' The travel ban is taking effect amid rising tensions in Los Angeles around immigration raids in the city. Trump and White House officials have argued the travel restrictions are based on national security concerns, specifically with vetting procedures involving the listed countries. Trump's attempts to restrict entry into the United States from certain Muslim-majority countries in his first term drew legal challenges and protests at airports across the country. This time around, experts have suggested he is likely on firmer legal footing in part because of a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the third version of his first-term ban and in part because the administration laid the groundwork with an executive order focused on enhanced vetting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
