\n CAIR-Austin promoted the September 10 \u201cJesus Was a Migrant\u201d screening and panel as an Austin Equity and Inclusion-sponsored event. | Graphic by The Dallas Express; source images via CAIR-Austin\/Instagram <\/p>\n
Austin taxpayers will provide $1,500 for a September 10 film screening and panel featuring CAIR-Austin, even as Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-Texas) seek to restrict CAIR operations in the state.<\/p>\n
The \u201cJesus Was a Migrant\u201d program will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Asian American Resource Center<\/a>, a city cultural facility at 8401 Cameron Rd. The registration page<\/a> says FaithWorks, CAIR-Austin and other organizations are inviting residents to the event, which Austin \u201cEquity\u201d and Inclusion is sponsoring through its We All Belong initiative.<\/p>\n City confirms $1,500 grant<\/p>\n Austin Public Information Specialist Natalie Hulsey confirmed the public funding in an email to The Dallas Express.<\/p>\n \u201cThe referenced event is directly tied to the City of Austin\u2019s We All Belong initiative, dedicated to strengthening belonging, celebrating diversity, and addressing hate, discrimination and bias through community engagement, education, partnerships, transparency, and coordinated action,\u201d Hulsey said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only investment for this programming is the $1,500 grant provided to host the event through the City\u2019s We All Belong program sponsorship initiative,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Hulsey\u2019s response did not identify the grant recipient or state that any portion would go directly to CAIR-Austin. Austin\u2019s adopted fiscal year 2025-2026 budget<\/a> set aside $150,000 for We All Belong, which the city described as a public campaign against hate crimes and incidents.<\/p>\n The program includes a screening of a Tisby Studios documentary, an interfaith panel and immigration-law resources. \u201cIn accordance with the City of Austin\u2019s We All Belong initiative, this event is organized to bring all Austinites from different backgrounds together to foster compassion, love, and belonging,\u201d the event description<\/a> states.<\/p>\n Abbott designates CAIR under Texas law<\/p>\n As previously reported<\/a> by The Dallas Express, Abbott issued a November 18, 2025, proclamation<\/a> designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations under the Texas Penal Code and transnational criminal organizations under the Texas Property Code. Abbott\u2019s action is a state designation, not a U.S. Department of State foreign terrorist organization designation.<\/p>\n The proclamation names CAIR, not CAIR-Austin or another local chapter. In a December 22, 2025, federal court filing<\/a>, Paxton called the designated CAIR entity \u201ca different legal entity\u201d from CAIR-Austin and CAIR-DFW and argued that neither local plaintiff was specifically named in the proclamation.<\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s office has nevertheless scrutinized public entities over events tied to CAIR chapters. In January, the office demanded<\/a> records from two school districts and said taxpayer dollars must not \u201cmaterially support terrorist organizations or their affiliates.\u201d<\/p>\n Paxton then filed a separate lawsuit<\/a> on February 5 against national CAIR and its Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth chapters. The lawsuit seeks to stop the organizations from operating in Texas. Those allegations remain contested.<\/p>\n Officials criticize the sponsorship<\/p>\n \u201cTexas taxpayers shouldn\u2019t tolerate any government or taxpayer-funded entity, at any level, partnering or working with CAIR. Texas taxpayer dollars should never be used to legitimize, support, or collaborate with organizations designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Period,\u201d State Board of Education member Brandon Hall (R-District 11) told The Dallas Express.<\/p>\n Abteen Vaziri, a Texas attorney and chairman of the Iranian American Republican Council<\/a>, accused Austin of making \u201ca political statement\u201d and catering to \u201cthe fringe radical islamists.\u201d<\/p>\n CAIR and CAIR-Texas dispute the state\u2019s allegations. Responding to Paxton\u2019s February lawsuit, the organizations called<\/a> it \u201canother frivolous, politically motivated anti-Muslim publicity stunt\u201d and said CAIR-Texas planned to continue its work in the state.<\/p>\n The Austin event remains scheduled for September 10. CAIR-Austin\u2019s Instagram post<\/a> lists Austin \u201cEquity\u201d and Inclusion on the promotional flyer.<\/p>\n