By Trendsetter Tribune 
As the March 3, 2026, primary approaches, Texas Republican leadership has pivoted from border-heavy messaging to an aggressive campaign targeting the state’s growing Muslim population. Following a perceived “lull” in border crossings due to the Trump administration’s enforcement policies, high-ranking officials are now centering “radical Islam” and “Sharia law” as primary threats to the state’s sovereignty.
The “Sharia City” Investigation
On Monday, February 9, 2026, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a formal investigation into a massive real estate development in Kaufman County.
- The Target: A multi-thousand-acre project backed by SEE Holding (a Dubai-based firm) and Kaufman Solar LLC.
- The Allegation: Paxton dubbed the site a “potentially illegal ‘Sharia City,'” claiming it aims to create an Islamic-only enclave that bypasses American law.
- The Warning: “There will be no ‘sharia city’ in Texas under my watch,” Paxton stated, demanding all communications between the developers and local officials.
Legislative & Executive Crackdown
Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick have moved to institutionalize this rhetoric through new laws and Senate mandates.
| Action | Status/Detail |
| House Bill 4211 | Signed by Abbott in Sept 2025; bans “Sharia compounds” and restricts developments like the proposed “EPIC City” from establishing religious-based housing rules. |
| CAIR Designation | Abbott designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a “foreign terrorist organization” in Nov 2025, effectively banning them from operating or owning land in Texas. |
| Senate Priorities | Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick listed “preventing Sharia Law” as his #1 interim priority for the 2027 legislative session. |
| Federal “Sharia-Free” Caucus | Launched in Dec 2025 by Reps. Chip Roy and Keith Self; the caucus seeks to block foreign nationals who observe Sharia from entering the U.S. |
Political Strategy: “A New Enemy”
Analysts suggest this shift is a calculated move to maintain voter intensity. With President Trump’s mass deportation agenda facing growing legal and public pushback, Texas Republicans are leaning into “civilizational” rhetoric.
- The “Save Texas” Dinner: A January 2026 fundraiser featured Steve Bannon and Dutch leader Geert Wilders, where speakers compared the growth of the Texas Muslim community to a “Trojan Horse” infiltration.
- The Cultural Front: Tarrant County activists have recently called for a “total ban” on Islamic attire and halal products, a move that legal experts warn would be a blatant violation of the First Amendment.
Community Reaction
The rhetoric has left Texas’s Muslim community—estimated at over 500,000 people—in a state of alarm. State Representative Salman Bhojani (D-Euless), one of the first Muslims elected to the Texas House, called the shift “disheartening and dangerous,” noting that many of his constituents now fear for their safety in public spaces.