DALLAS—Republican officials and candidates in Texas are treating the growth of Muslim communities and Islamic institutions as a political flashpoint.
At the Republican National Committee’s Midterm Convention in Dallas, state lawmakers and members of Congress said the issue merits a forceful response. State Rep. Brian Harrison said Texans are 'very concerned' and argued the Legislature should act now, not wait until November.
Harrison said lawmakers should not fund organizations with ties to groups that call for the 'violent overthrow' of Texas or the United States government. U.S. Rep. Keith Self introduced a resolution titled 'Denouncing Sharia Law in the United States.' U.S. Rep. Chip Roy sent a letter asking federal officials to examine a planned Islamic development near Camp Bullis Military Training Reservation in San Antonio for possible criminal, civil, financial or immigration violations.
Republican congressional candidate Brandon Hererra said the rise in Islam 'should be a concern' and said it is spreading beyond Houston and Dallas into San Antonio and El Paso. Self and U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill also criticized Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's plans to install wudu, or ablution stations, in Terminal D.
By the numbers: Texas had an estimated 140,000 Muslims in 1990, according to the Texas State Historical Association. More recent estimates place the state's Muslim population between 300,000 and 500,000.
Why it matters: The fight is not just about religion. It is about whether state and federal officials see a public-safety issue, how much taxpayer money goes to controversial groups, and how much pressure the GOP wants to put on local institutions.
The big picture: Texas Republicans are using the debate to draw a line on security, immigration and assimilation. That message is likely to keep echoing far beyond Dallas as the party decides how hard to push.