SMU cancels CAIR-Texas youth conference over Abbott's terrorist designation, federal lawsuit pending

SMU has canceled a Sept. 19 youth leadership conference organized by CAIR-Texas from its Dallas campus, citing Gov. Greg Abbott's state-level designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations as a foreign terrorist organization. The "Unapologetically Muslim" event had been designed for high school students and rising college underclassmen, offering civic engagement training, mock testimony sessions, and power-mapping workshops. A federal lawsuit filed by CAIR against Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenging that November 2025 designation remains active.

The conference was billed as a day of leadership development aimed at helping students identify and influence decision-makers in their communities, with the event page describing it as a chance to "get more involved in the issues affecting their communities." SMU confirmed the cancellation in a statement Tuesday, saying that permitting the event given Texas's current designation of its organizer "is inconsistent with our mission and related University policies." The university also said it "welcomes a wide range of organizations and perspectives to campus as part of our commitment to open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas," a line that sits awkwardly alongside the cancellation.

Abbott's proclamation

Abbott's November 2025 statement designated both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. Abbott said the organizations' actions "to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable" and that they seek to "forcibly impose Sharia law." He also declared them "prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas." The designation is a state action; no corresponding federal classification exists.

CAIR's response and what to watch

CAIR filed suit against Abbott and Paxton in November 2025, arguing the proclamation has no basis in Texas law and is unconstitutional. CAIR-Texas, whose Houston chapter has operated since 1994, called the move a "lawless attack" on civil rights and said Abbott is "defaming" the organization because of its advocacy work. The group said it will continue on free speech, religious freedom, and racial equality regardless.

The federal case is the next milestone. A ruling blocking the designation would remove the legal ground SMU cited for the cancellation. Until then, CAIR-Texas events at Texas institutions face the same friction.