Texas reps launch new Sharia Caucus
Posted For: Rotorblade
Texans continue to take the lead on efforts opposing the application of Sharia law in the United States, including the creation of a new congressional caucus and the introduction of legislation aimed at revoking tax-exempt status from organizations accused of supporting terrorism.
U.S. Reps. Chip Roy and Keith Self, both Texas Republicans, announced Thursday the formation of the Sharia-Free America Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. The lawmakers said the caucus is intended to address what they describe as the growing influence of Sharia law in the United States, which they argue is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution.
“America is facing a direct threat to our Constitution and Western values through the spread of Sharia law,” Roy said. He claimed that individuals adhering to Sharia are entering the country under the guise of refugee status and, in some cases, are connected to terrorist organizations. Roy also asserted that Sharia law undermines freedoms such as speech, religion, and women’s rights.
Self echoed those concerns, saying the American way of life is being challenged by radical ideologies hostile to constitutional principles. He pointed to developments in European countries such as France and England as warnings of what he believes could happen in the U.S. if similar influences are not stopped.
The caucus follows legislation Roy and Self introduced in October, titled the Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act. The bill would direct the U.S. attorney general, along with the secretaries of Homeland Security and State, to bar foreign nationals who observe Sharia law from entering or remaining in the United States. It would also revoke immigration benefits and allow deportation for individuals who make false statements regarding their adherence to Sharia law.
Separately, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, reintroduced legislation to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 to ban members of the Muslim Brotherhood from entering the U.S. Cruz has filed similar legislation multiple times over the past decade.
At the state level, Gov. Greg Abbott recently issued directives designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. CAIR and the Muslim Legal Fund of America filed a lawsuit challenging the directives, arguing they are unconstitutional. CAIR has denied any ties to terrorism.
Abbott also instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to open criminal investigations into the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR and ordered law enforcement to examine an Islamic tribunal operating in north Texas that claims to issue judicial rulings. The tribunal is located in Rep. Self’s congressional district.
One week after Abbott’s designation, President Donald Trump issued an executive order formally designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.
Earlier this month, Abbott asked the U.S. Treasury Department to investigate CAIR’s tax-exempt status, citing a federal court ruling from the Holy Land Foundation case that found evidence linking CAIR to Hamas. Abbott argued that federal law prohibits foreign terrorist organizations and their affiliates from maintaining tax-exempt status.
On Thursday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced legislation that would allow the Treasury Department to revoke tax-exempt status from organizations found to be providing material support to terrorism. Cornyn said this includes financial assistance, services, or training.
Cornyn said his bill is intended to ensure that organizations accused of supporting terrorism do not receive taxpayer benefits. He also called on President Trump to designate CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization at the federal level.
Under current federal law, an organization’s tax-exempt status is automatically suspended when it is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. Cornyn’s proposal would expand that authority to include organizations designated within the past three years and establish procedures for notification, appeals, and judicial review.
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