New Bill Declares CAIR Unwelcome at TX State Capitol

State Rep. Jared Patterson (R) has filed House Resolution 971, which declares the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) unwelcome at the Texas Capitol.

In a social media post announcing the measure, state Rep. Patterson cited alleged ties between CAIR leadership and terrorist organizations as the driving reason for the resolution.

"CAIR’s leadership has been credibly linked to terrorist organizations like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood—groups that hate the United States and Israel and threaten our way of life," he wrote on X.

"Texas will always stand firmly against those who threaten our freedoms, erode our values, or side with our enemies."

The resolution comes in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people, including American citizens. The attack also resulted in the taking of more than 240 hostages. The Texas Republican referenced the attack in his social media post, highlighting the need for vigilance against organizations he believes have extremist connections.

"The FBI has suspended formal contact with CAIR because of these ties, and multiple CAIR leaders have been convicted of crimes supporting terrorism," he wrote.

He emphasized that the Texas Legislature must send a strong message. "We must never allow extremist organizations to find a home in the halls of our Capitol," state Rep. Patterson expressed. "I will always fight to protect Texas, our Constitution, and the values that make our state strong."

CAIR is an organization that describes itself as a civil rights and advocacy group for Muslim Americans. However, it has long faced accusations from critics regarding past leadership ties and controversial public statements.