French, a former Tarrant County GOP chair, also said Republicans should more openly embrace Islamophobia.
The application period, set to close Tuesday night, must now remain open until March 31, according to an attorney representing Islamic schools.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of an executive order issued last year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that designates two Muslim groups as foreign terrorist organizations.
As the GOP and its factions debate what constitutes American identity, opposition to Islam has become a key campaign pillar for some Texas Republicans in statewide races and beyond.
A CAIR official blasted the Texas AG’s opinion, saying the law does not permit the comptroller to scrutinize Muslim schools because of their religious identity.
Gov. Greg Abbott is pressuring Cy-Fair ISD to cut ties with the 2026 Houston Islamic Games, while the district says it has not agreed to host the event and must follow anti-discrimination laws.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is pushing back against a lawsuit filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), arguing the group’s legal challenge over being labeled a terrorist organization is built on speculation and political disagreement, not law.
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock suggested schools that hosted events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations or are linked to China could be disqualified from the new program.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has designated one of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups in the U.S. a “foreign terrorist organization,” following a similar step by Texas last month.
Two Islamic civil rights organizations have filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Two Islamic civil rights organizations have filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Abbott wants the DPS to investigate CAIR for threats of violence, intimidation and harassment
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has designated four organizations or organization categories as foreign terrorist or transnational criminal groups under state authority.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations, citing concerns over alleged support for terrorism and attempts to undermine legal systems.
After vandalism reports involving graffiti at a few mosques in Texas and California, Muslim leaders there have stepped up existing efforts to keep their sacred spaces and community members safe.