AUSTIN, TX— Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Sunday that state authorities have stepped in and terminated all construction efforts on “EPIC City,” the proposed Muslim community directed by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) described as “an exclusionary zone” by a Retired Plano Police Lieutenant.
In a post to X on Sunday, Governor Abbott wrote, “Texas has halted any construction of EPIC City. There is no construction taking place. The state of Texas has launched about a half dozen investigations into this project. That includes criminal investigations. And, the US Department of Justice is also investigating. This matter, and similar matters, are taken very seriously, and actions are being taken to address all concerns.”
Abbott shared his update in response to video footage of the development posted by John Ferguson, who wrote, “Islamists are still building their Sharia law 400-acre city. Texans need to be aware. Islam does not assimilate. We have been given a heads up that the Developer of the Mega Muslim City in Josephine, TX is fighting to have locals cover the cost of ALL water, sewer, drainage, and flood control services through PROPERTY TAX.”
Gov. Abbott initially blocked construction of the development in early April when the governor announced a series of actions “to uphold the rule of law and defend Texas communities from any threats posed by EPIC.”
These investigations by the Texas Rangers, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas State Securities Board, Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas, and a cease-and-desist order from the Texas Funeral Service Commission to “immediately stop all illegal funeral service operations.”
“Here in Texas, we uphold the rule of law,” Abbott said in a statement. “The group behind the proposed East Plano Islamic Center compound in Collin County is knowingly breaking state law in many ways, including by operating a funeral home without a license. This is a crime, and it will not be tolerated. Texas will continue to defend our communities from any threats posed by EPIC City.”
As reported by The Washington Examiner, Attorney General Pam Bondi complied with a request from Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) for a federal investigation into allegations of “religious discrimination,” in the development which, if true, would present a violation of the 1968 Fair Housing Act which forbids discrimination in the sale or rental based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin.
“Religious-based discrimination is a constitutional violation as well as a federal rights investigation,” Cornyn said, according to the Examiner. “Appropriate steps should be taken to ensure that this community does not run afoul of these obligations.”
“I am grateful to Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice for hearing my concerns and opening an investigation into the proposed EPIC City development in North Texas,” he added. “Religious discrimination and Sharia Law have no place in the Lone Star State. Any violations of federal law must be swiftly prosecuted, and I know under the Trump administration, they will be.”
As previously reported by Law Enforcement Today, retired Plano Police Lieutenant Douglas Deaton told Fox News host Mark Levin in April that the development would be “its own autonomous exclusionary zone out in an unincorporated area of the county. And most people believe based on their promotional materials that it would be for Muslim-Only members. Muslim only residents, and it would eventually be sort of a reflection of the existing thing that we have in East Plano.”
