Greg Abbott Archives

Texas investigating ‘EPIC City,’ a proposed Muslim-centric community

April 2, 2025
- A proposed Muslim-centric housing development, “EPIC City,” has drawn opposition in Texas, facing criticism from local residents and state officials. The project is under multiple state investigations, with concerns over religious influence and fair housing laws.
- Gov. Greg Abbott spoke out against the project, and Texas agencies are investigating potential legal violations, including discrimination and financial harm.
- Supporters argue that the development is inclusive and lawful, but no official plans have been submitted, leaving the project’s future uncertain.
Full Story

A proposed Muslim-centric housing development near Dallas, Texas, faced significant opposition during a Collin County Commissioner’s meeting this week and is now under multiple state investigations.

The project, known as “EPIC City,” is still in its early stages, with no official builder plans submitted to the county. However, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), the mosque behind the initiative, has a promotional video outlining its vision that has garnered attention.

What’s in the video?

According to the video, EPIC City aims to be a diverse and inclusive housing community.

“EPIC City — a housing community where we celebrate diversity and promote unity. Our community is designed to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity for all residents, regardless of their background.”
EPIC City Promotional Video

Despite this message of inclusivity, the project emphasizes Islam as a central aspect of its 400-acre development, which is planned to include homes, businesses and religious centers.

“EPIC City is more than just a neighborhood. It’s a way of life, a meticulously designed community that brings Islam to the forefront,” the video states.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone there. We ask Allah to help us complete this project.”

Gov. Abbott responds

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, took to social media platform X to express his disapproval of the project, stating:

“To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are ‘no-go zones,’ which this project seems to imply. Bottom line. The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas.”

To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas.

Nor are Sharia cities.

Nor are “no go zones“ which this project seems to imply.

Bottom line. The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas. https://t.co/5Sw5VdXD31
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 24, 2025

Public opposition at county meeting

For the first time, residents were given the opportunity to voice their opinions on EPIC City at a recent county commissioner’s meeting. The overwhelming majority spoke against the project.

“We all want safe, inclusive communities that require transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law. EPIC City fails on all three,” one resident said.

Another speaker expressed concerns over the potential for segregation.

“Our country has relentlessly fought against segregation. To allow a new group to claim and execute a 400-acre segregated city is the height of insanity. It is a violation of our fair housing laws,” they said.

Concerns about religious law were also raised.

“This Sharia law is so far away from our Constitution’s protection of inalienable rights and freedom of speech that it is totally incongruent with anything we can allow in the state of Texas,” one speaker said.

During the hours-long public comment session, only two residents spoke in support of the project.

“These individuals deserve fair treatment and real representation,” one resident said. “We must advocate for an inclusive Texas where everyone, regardless of race, religion and background, can thrive. It’s disappointing that these so-called Christians with American values are quick to abandon those values and the Constitution.”

State investigations launched

The state of Texas has initiated five separate investigations into EPIC City, the East Plano Islamic Center and the investment group “Community Capital Partners” (CCP), which was established by EPIC.

Abbott addressed these investigations, stating:

“The proposed EPIC compound in Collin County has serious legal issues. A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas.”

The proposed EPIC compound in Collin Co. has serious legal issues.

A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 25, 2025

The Texas Rangers are investigating potential criminal activities linked to the project. Other agencies involved include:
- Texas Workforce Commission: Investigating potential discrimination violations of the Texas Fair Housing Act.
- Texas State Securities Board: Looking into potential financial harm to Texans.
- Texas Funeral Services Commission: Alleging that EPIC has been running illegal funeral service operations.
Support for EPIC City

Texas Democratic Rep. Salman Bhojani, the first Muslim elected official in Texas history, voiced support for the project and criticized the investigations.

Speaking to CBS News, he said, “I think this is just adding more fuel to the fire. I know a lot of developments in north Texas that exactly mimic [EPIC City]. So, there’s nothing illegal about that. This is something that we should be protecting in the state of Texas, not demonizing it.”

Developers reaffirm inclusivity

During the commissioner’s meeting, EPIC’s public relations representative, Erin Ragsdale, assured county leaders that the development would be open to everyone and comply with all legal requirements.

“The idea for EPIC City came from the vision of building a master-planned neighborhood for all generations,” Ragsdale said.Their vision is to build an inclusive community for everyone. I don’t think that we would be here today at this early stage if there were plans floating around for a master-planned community with a place of worship that was Christian.”

Community Capital Partners also released a statement to local news outlets, stating, “The project is still in the early planning phase, and no plans have been submitted to the county. CCP intends to follow all applicable rules, regulations and laws and intends to develop an inclusive community that all citizens can be proud of.”

No decisions made

Since no official plans for EPIC City have been submitted, the commissioners did not make any decisions regarding the project’s future. No additional hearings have been scheduled to discuss the development further.

For now, EPIC City remains an idea, and the organizations behind it remain under investigation.
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Trump admin denies Mexico water after it short US-bound water for years

March 31, 2025
- The State Department rejected Mexico’s request for Colorado River water to flow to Tijuana. It cited Mexico’s failure to meet its treaty obligations to send 1.75 million acre-feet of Rio Grande water over a five-year period, of which less than a quarter has been delivered.
- Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott criticized Mexico for withholding water, highlighting the detrimental impact on Texas farmers who rely on the Rio Grande for crop irrigation.
- Mexico is facing a severe drought that began in 2022, complicating its ability to meet water-sharing obligations under the 1944 treaty. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has not commented on the U.S. decision.
Full Story

The federal government is turning down Mexico’s request for more Colorado River water after the country fell behind in sending water for U.S. use.

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs announced March 20 that it would deny Mexico’s special request for water from the Colorado River to flow to Tijuana. The department cites Mexico’s resistance to sending the U.S. water, despite the two countries having a long-standing agreement.

“Mexico’s continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture–particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley,” the bureau said on X.

According to a 1944 treaty between the countries, Mexico is obligated to send the U.S. 1.75 million acre-feet from the Rio Grande over five years. In turn, the U.S. lets 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water flow to Mexico each year. According to Voice of America, Mexico has sent less than one-quarter of what America is owed for the current five-year period that ends in October.

Mexico is currently working through a severe drought that started in 2022, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Reactions

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the denial of a special water delivery to Mexico was due to the country’s decision to withhold water from farmers in Texas who rely on a steady supply from the Rio Grande to grow their crops.

“Mexico has failed to uphold its end of the treaty, and American farmers have suffered the consequences,” Rollins said March 21. “Mexico was allowed to get away with it in years past—but those days are over.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on the same day that his state is working with the Trump administration to hold Mexico accountable for not living up to its side of the treaty.

“Mexico’s blatant disregard of water obligations must not be allowed to continue,” he said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, an environmental engineer by trade, told reporters earlier this month that water is “an important issue” and that the state-run utility is addressing the matter.
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Rep. Crockett calls Gov. Abbott ‘hot wheels,’ says it wasn’t about wheelchair

March 26, 2025
- Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett made controversial remarks about Gov. Greg Abbott at a Los Angeles fundraising event, later insisting her comments were not about his disability. Disability advocates and Republican lawmakers criticized her words.
- Gov. Abbott and Texas Republicans condemned her remarks, with Rep. Randy Weber filing a censure resolution against her for “venomous rhetoric.”
- Despite some backlash, Crockett remains a rising figure in the Democratic Party, ranking sixth in a CNN poll of Democratic leaders, ahead of prominent figures like Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi.
Full Story

Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett took the stage in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 22, as a guest speaker at a Human Rights Campaign fundraising dinner.

She began her speech with a lighthearted remark, saying, “Listen, so, if you’ve ever paid any attention to me, y’all know that I always have remarks and then something else happens. Y’all just pray for me because who knows what I’m going to end up saying.”

A few minutes into her speech, Crockett made a controversial statement about Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

What did Rep. Crockett say?

“We in these hot-[expletive] Texas streets, honey. Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there, come on now. And the only hot thing about him is that he is a hot-[expletive] mess, honey, so um yes, yes, yes.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas

Crockett later insisted that her comments were not about the governor’s disability. However, some disability advocacy groups and Republican lawmakers suggested that the remarks targeted Abbott’s wheelchair use.

Disability advocacy groups respond

Josie Byzek, a spokesperson for the United Spinal Association, responded to Crockett’s comments.

“Representative Crockett has a history of protecting the programs and rights of people with disabilities, and that’s wonderful. At the same time, the stigma is real,” Byzek said.

Another disability rights advocate, Emily Ladau, told Politico, “If the Democrats want to be as inclusive as they claim they do and ensure that people with disabilities are actually recognized as being welcome under their political umbrella, then you have to be thoughtful about your words. When Crockett made that joke, she was really punching down, and she knew that she would get a laugh.”

Crockett clarifies her remarks

Crockett addressed the controversy on X, stating, “I wasn’t thinking about the governor’s condition — I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable.”

She also criticized the backlash, saying, “I’m even more appalled that the very people who unequivocally support Trump — a man known for racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilities — are now outraged.”

How did Gov. Abbott respond?

Gov. Abbott responded to Crockett’s remarks on Fox News, Tuesday, March 25.

“It’s another day and another disaster for the Democrats. The reality is they have no vision, no policy, nothing to sell but hate.”
Gov. Greg Abbott

Following her comments, Texas Republican Rep. Randy Weber filed a censure resolution against Crockett, stating, “She must be censured and held accountable for the venomous rhetoric she spews as a representative of the Democratic Party.”

The resolution also referenced another controversial exchange between Crockett and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, where Crockett and Greene traded criticisms over the other congresswoman’s appearance.

Rep. Crockett’s popularity among Democrats rising

Despite Republican criticism, Crockett remains a favorite within the Democratic Party.

A new CNN poll ranked her among the top contenders for “who Democrats believe is the leader of the party.” She placed sixth, ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received the most votes.
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DOJ drops lawsuits against 3 states surrounding immigration laws

March 20, 2025
- The U.S. Department of Justice has granted Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa permission to allow state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. This shift follows the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, reversing Biden-era efforts to block these measures.
- In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott’s law allows police to arrest individuals suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Oklahoma and Iowa are advancing similar laws, allowing state police to act in coordination with federal immigration agencies.
Full Story

The U.S. Department of Justice approved the authority of state police in Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa to enforce immigration laws. The decision marks a shift in state-level involvement in immigration enforcement.

In the span of a few days, the Department of Justice sent letters to the three states, effectively allowing state and local law enforcement to arrest individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. This move comes after President Donald Trump’s return to office, signaling a reversal of the Biden administration’s efforts to block these laws.

Texas immigration law tied up in courts since 2023

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a 2023 law allowing state and local police to arrest individuals suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The law permits arrests with evidence, and individuals face misdemeanor charges for a first offense. However, crimes escalate to felony charges for repeat offenders.

Senate Bill 4 also gives judges the power to deport individuals without trial, resulting in the dropping of all charges.

However, since its passage, the law has been tied up in the courts. In response to the law, the Biden administration filed a lawsuit, which led to a federal judge blocking the law. Texas appealed the ruling, and the appellate court temporarily paused the decision.

Civil rights groups and Biden officials pushed for the U.S. Supreme Court to maintain the block, but the high court issued an administrative stay. The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively froze the law until a final decision is made in the lower courts.

Oklahoma immigration law

A similar situation has unfolded in Oklahoma. The state law, which makes it a felony for individuals to be in the state without legal immigration status, has also faced legal challenges. Biden’s DOJ and nonprofit organizations filed lawsuits claiming House Bill 4156 interferes with federal authority.

In 2024, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law enabling state law enforcement to directly connect with federal immigration agencies through Operation Guardian. This initiative creates a local immigration enforcement system that does not step on federal authority.

Immigration law in Iowa

Meanwhile, in Iowa, lawmakers are moving forward with a law set to take effect in July 2024. Under the proposed legislation, state and local law enforcement would have the authority to detain and charge individuals based on outstanding deportation orders or prior entry denials.

More than a dozen states have already passed laws granting state and local police the power to make arrests based on immigration status. However, 11 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws prohibiting such practices, banning officers from using their resources to support federal immigration enforcement.
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Nearly 120 arrested in ICE raid of large housing development in Texas

February 26, 2025
- More than 100 people were arrested during a massive raid at a large Houston-area housing development community known as Colony Ridge, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). President Donald Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan said the effort was part of a larger operation.
- Homan told Fox News that some migrants were apprehended at worksites, while others were arrested during traffic stops and some had warrants.
- Authorities did not release the identities of all 118 people they arrested, though, they did highlight some individuals.
Full Story

Nearly 120 people were arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 25, during a massive raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE officials said the raid happened at a large Houston-area housing development community known as Colony Ridge.

What is the Trump administration saying?

President Donald Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan told Fox News the effort was part of a larger operation.

Homan said that some migrants were apprehended at worksites, while others were arrested during traffic stops. Some also had warrants.

“I know for a fact, there was several sexual predators. I mean, child predators that were arrested for sexual misconduct with a child,” Homan told Fox News. “I know there was one that was convicted of either homicide or murder.”

Who was arrested?

Authorities did not release the identities of all 118 people they arrested, although. However, they did highlight some individuals.

An ICE spokesperson in Houston said one of the individuals arrested has been deported three times and was arrested on a warrant for repeated sexual abuse of a minor from November 2008 to November 2016.

ICE also said authorities arrested an MS-13 gang member who had previously been deported in connection with a murder.

The agency also revealed various charges and convictions associated with those who were arrested, including child sexual abuse, homicide, negligent manslaughter, theft, weapons and drug offenses.

What is Gov. Greg Abbot saying?

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first revealed ICE operations at Colony Ridge on Monday in a social post. The post said authorities were “targeting criminals and illegal immigrants.” Abbott added, that he “worked with Tom Homan on this for months.”

Colony Ridge is being targeted today.

Texas DPS Troopers & Special Agents are assisting Homeland Security Investigations, with an operation in Colony Ridge this morning.

They are targeting criminals & illegal immigrants.

I have worked with Tom Homan on this for months.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 24, 2025

What are immigrant rights advocates and residents saying?

Immigration rights advocates condemned the raid. They called it a “wave of terror directed at the Colony Ridge communities by the governor.”

One resident said the heavy police presence made them and their family fearful.

Why does Colony Ridge hold significance?

Colony Ridge has been brought up in the immigration debate several times. The area has drawn criticism from Texas Republicans and conservative activists over accusations of selling land to undocumented immigrants.

Critics also said the area is plagued with cartel crime. Local and state police have refuted that claim.
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‘Texas Fried Chicken’: KFC headquarters moves from Kentucky to Texas

February 20, 2025
- Kentucky Fried Chicken is relocating its U.S. corporate headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas. About 100 corporate employees will move within six months, with 90 remote workers transitioning over 18 months.
- Yum! Brands cited the move as a way to enhance collaboration among its brands, with KFC joining Pizza Hut’s global headquarters in Plano.
- Despite the relocation, KFC will maintain offices in Louisville, fund a $1 million endowment at the University of Louisville and open a flagship restaurant in the city.
Full Story

Kentucky Fried Chicken is relocating its U.S. corporate headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas, according to a press release from its parent company, Yum! Brands. The move will see about 100 corporate employees make the transition over the next six months.

A push for greater collaboration

Yum Brands said the decision aims to foster greater collaboration among its brands, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger Grill. The KFC team will join the KFC and Pizza Hut headquarters already based in Plano.

Additionally, around 90 remote employees will relocate. Yum! Brands has pledged relocation and transition support for all affected staff.

“These changes position us for sustainable growth and will help us better serve our customers, employees, franchisees and shareholders.”

– David Gibbs, Yum! Brands CEO

Texas welcomes the “Colonel & company”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, welcomed KFC’s move on social media, posting on X, “Welcome to Texas, Colonel and company. Many hungry Texans appreciate your move. Now, and hear me out, any chance you would consider a name like Texas Fried Chicken or TFC?”

Kentucky Fried Chicken is leaving Kentucky & moving to Texas.

Welcome to Texas, Colonel & company.

Many hungry Texans appreciate your move.

Now, and hear me out, any chance you would consider a name like Texas Fried Chicken or TFC?

It’s a great brand https://t.co/nYKqi9DayO
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 19, 2025

Honoring the company’s Kentucky roots

Despite the relocation, KFC will maintain a strong presence in Kentucky. Yum! Brands and the KFC Foundation will keep offices in Louisville, and have committed a $1 million endowment to the College of Business at the University of Louisville. The endowment will fund scholarships.

KFC also plans to open a first-of-its-kind flagship restaurant in Louisville, celebrating its deep-rooted history.

Founded more than 75 years ago by Harland Sanders, better known as “The Colonel,” KFC began in 1930 when Sanders opened a roadside motel in Corbin, Kentucky, serving his famous Southern-style fried chicken to travelers.
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Gov. Abbott offers 100 miles of border to feds, wants $11B for costs under Biden

February 13, 2025
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed leasing or selling 100 miles of borderlands to the federal government. He seeks $11 billion to cover Operation Lone Star costs.
- The offer includes border walls, easements, jail cells and military beds built under the state’s border security initiative during the Biden administration.
- Abbott says he is confident in securing federal payment, while some Democrats remain skeptical of the deal’s outcome.
Full Story

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is proposing to lease or sell more than 100 miles of borderlands to the federal government. Abbott’s proposal is part of an $11 billion deal to cover the state’s border security costs under Operation Lone Star.

Border security assets on the table

Abbott’s offer includes over 50 miles of constructed border wall, 20 miles of planned walls and 100 miles of easements and materials for future construction. Additionally, the state would transfer 4,000 jail cells used for detaining migrants and 2,000 military beds for deployed troops.

What Gov. Abbott told reporters

Abbott said these resources were built under Operation Lone Star. However, he believes Texas should not bear the cost of securing the U.S.-Mexico border. He is asking Congress and the federal government to pay $11 billion for the infrastructure.

“This is not really a reimbursement,” Abbott told reporters. “This is a payment for real estate assets and improvements provided by the state of Texas as payment for services rendered by the state of Texas that benefits everybody in the United States of America.”

Democrats and Republicans respond

Some state Democrats doubt Texas will see the money and argue the funds should have gone to veterans or public schools.

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, called Abbott’s request a “reimbursement for a complete and utter failure.”

Gonzalez told The Texas Tribune that Operation Lone Star has been ineffective in curbing migrants and that the governor was engaging in “political grandstanding” at the expense of tax dollars that could go to veterans or public schools.

Republican lawmakers disagree.

“$11 billion came out of the pockets of Texans,” Rep. Chip Roy. R-Texas, said. “That’s money that could be used for roads, for schools, for DPS, who should have been in Austin and Dallas and Dallas and San Antonio and Houston and not down on the border. They were doing the job the federal government was supposed to do.”

Abbott expressed confidence after meetings in Washington that the state will receive the payment. Republican said they could get the funds approved as early as April.
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Texas Gov. Abbott sends 400 more soldiers to assist Border Patrol

January 27, 2025
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is sending 400 specially trained National Guard soldiers to the Rio Grande Valley to assist the Border Patrol. In addition to the personnel, the deployment will add C-130 aircraft and Chinook helicopters to the 4,200 National Guard soldiers who are already stationed at the border.

Abbott said the soldiers will coordinate and work “side-by-side” with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents to stop undocumented immigrants from entering the country.

“Texas has a partner in the White House we can work with to secure the Texas-Mexico border,” Abbott said in a statement. “For the past four years, Texas held the line against the Biden Administration’s border crisis and their refusal to protect Americans. Finally, we have a federal government working to end this crisis.”

The soldiers are headed to the southernmost tip of the state, which has consistently had some of the highest levels of crossings anywhere on the border. The troops are members of the state’s Tactical Border Force. The group was established in 2023 during Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, a multibillion dollar border security mission.

During the week of Jan. 20, Abbott asked Congress for an $11 billion reimbursement for costs the state has incurred since Operation Lone Star began in 2021.

Abbott gave a cost breakdown of different measures he implemented, including:
- $3 billion to construct 100 miles of border wall and deploy buoys in the Rio Grande.
- $58 million on 200 miles of concertina wire and border fencing.
- $6 billion on personnel deployment, including 10,000 National Guard members and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
Abbott said his operation led to an 87% reduction in illegal crossings along the Texas border. He said in all, Texas law enforcement have arrested more than half a million migrants who were in the country illegally and prevented 140,000 crossings.
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Texas Gov. Abbott wants $11 billion reimbursement for border security

January 24, 2025
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is asking the federal government for $11 billion as a reimbursement for the border security measures he implemented during the Biden administration. Abbott said it would cover the costs the state has incurred since 2021 when he implemented Operation Lone Star.

“President Biden’s policies left Texas and the rest of America defenseless against an unprecedented infiltration of violent criminals, known terrorists, and other hostile foreign actors, like the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua,” Abbott wrote in a letter to congressional leaders on Thursday, Jan. 23. “I launched Operation Lone Star (OLS) to combat these threats to all Americans.”

Abbott gave a cost breakdown of different measures he implemented:
- $3 billion to construct 100 miles of border wall and deploy buoys in the Rio Grande.
- $58 million on 200 miles of concertina wire and border fencing.
- $6 billion on personnel deployment, including 10,000 National Guard members and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
There are still 4,200 Texas National Guard members stationed at the border. There are 2,500 active duty military personnel in the region and on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Defense Department announced it’s deploying 1,500 more. They will install physical barriers and assist with air and intelligence assets.

Abbott said his operation led to an 87% reduction in illegal crossings along the Texas border. He said in all, Texas law enforcement have arrested more than half a million migrants who were in the country illegally and prevented 140,000 crossings.

Congress would need to include the money in either the government funding package or a supplemental funding package. It could also repurpose money that has already been allocated for border security using budget reconciliation. That would technically be easier because it only requires a simple majority in the Senate, rather than 60 votes, meaning Republicans could do it alone.
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Gov. Abbott threatens Texas A&M president’s job over DEI conference

January 15, 2025
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is determined to enforce the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities. Abbott threatened to remove Texas A&M President Mark Welsh after a conservative activist claimed the university may be violating the ban by attending a conference that only allows minorities to participate.

Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, shared a screenshot of an email on X, formerly known as Twitter. The email, sent by a representative from Mays Business School, invited Texas A&M to attend an annual conference hosted by The PhD Project.

Rufo also shared a screenshot detailing the conference’s eligibility requirements. The requirements stated that attendees must identify as Black, Hispanic or Native American.

When a social media user asked if Texas would tolerate such actions, Abbott responded, “Hell, no. It’s against Texas law and violates the U.S. Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone.”

Hell, no.

It’s against Texas law and violates the US Constitution.

It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone. https://t.co/g3VTUXWvLb
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 14, 2025

In response, Welsh issued a statement.

“Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor,” Welsh said.

The state’s Senate Bill 17 took effect in January 2024. The law bans universities from having DEI offices, requiring DEI statements or training and offering preferential treatment based on race, sex, color or ethnicity. However, the law allows certain DEI-related activities for recruitment and research purposes. Texas A&M’s legal counsel believed that applied to The PhD Project conference.

Despite this, Welsh confirmed that the university would no longer participate in the conference. However, the university had attended in previous years before the law was enacted.

Following the public controversy, other Texas universities, including the University of Texas System, University of North Texas and Texas Tech University, also announced they would not attend the conference.
Related Stories

Texas investigating ‘EPIC City,’ a proposed Muslim-centric community

Full Story

What’s in the video?

Gov. Abbott responds

Public opposition at county meeting

State investigations launched

Support for EPIC City

Developers reaffirm inclusivity

No decisions made

Trump admin denies Mexico water after it short US-bound water for years

Full Story

Reactions

Rep. Crockett calls Gov. Abbott ‘hot wheels,’ says it wasn’t about wheelchair

Full Story

What did Rep. Crockett say?

Disability advocacy groups respond

Crockett clarifies her remarks

How did Gov. Abbott respond?

Rep. Crockett’s popularity among Democrats rising

DOJ drops lawsuits against 3 states surrounding immigration laws

Full Story

Texas immigration law tied up in courts since 2023

Oklahoma immigration law

Immigration law in Iowa

Nearly 120 arrested in ICE raid of large housing development in Texas

Full Story

What is the Trump administration saying?

Who was arrested?

What is Gov. Greg Abbot saying?

What are immigrant rights advocates and residents saying?

Why does Colony Ridge hold significance?

‘Texas Fried Chicken’: KFC headquarters moves from Kentucky to Texas

Full Story

A push for greater collaboration

Texas welcomes the “Colonel & company”

Honoring the company’s Kentucky roots

Gov. Abbott offers 100 miles of border to feds, wants $11B for costs under Biden

Full Story

Border security assets on the table

What Gov. Abbott told reporters

Democrats and Republicans respond

Texas Gov. Abbott sends 400 more soldiers to assist Border Patrol

Texas Gov. Abbott wants $11 billion reimbursement for border security

Gov. Abbott threatens Texas A&M president’s job over DEI conference