SMU Cancels CAIR-Texas Youth Conference Over Texas Terrorist Designation

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 2

Southern Methodist University said a Sept. 19 CAIR-Texas youth conference for high school and college students will no longer take place on its Dallas campus.
SMU said the unaffiliated event conflicted with university policies because Texas currently designates CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization, a state action rather than a federal one.
The "Unapologetically Muslim" conference had been promoted as leadership and civic-engagement training, including interactive sessions, mock testimony and power mapping.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced the designation in November 2025, grouping CAIR with the Muslim Brotherhood and barring the organizations from acquiring real property interests in Texas.
CAIR sued Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the proclamation, calling it unconstitutional and defamatory; that federal case is still pending.