Texas Governor Greg Abbott on January 21, 2026, directed Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Harris County to immediately halt any negotiations or agreements connected to the 2026 Houston Islamic Games, citing alleged links between the event and the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR.
In a letter addressed to Cy-Fair ISD Board President Julie Hinaman and Superintendent Douglas Killian, Abbott stated that allowing public school facilities to be used for events associated with CAIR New Jersey would violate Texas law and potentially endanger students.
The governor ordered the district to preserve all documents, communications, and records related to the Houston Islamic Games and any affiliated organizations. He also required written confirmation within seven days that all discussions or agreements tied to the event had ended.
Abbott warned that noncompliance could trigger an investigation from the Texas Education Agency and possible legal action from Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The directive referenced a gubernatorial proclamation issued in November 2025 that designates the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations under Texas law. The proclamation alleges that CAIR functions as a front group for Hamas, an allegation CAIR has repeatedly denied.
In the letter, Abbott stated that radical Islamic extremism has no place in Texas and emphasized that taxpayer-funded school facilities cannot host events sponsored by organizations designated as terrorist entities under state law.
Cy-Fair ISD officials released a written statement disputing the governor’s characterization of the district’s involvement with the 2026 Houston Islamic Games. District leaders also described the manner in which the issue surfaced as inconsistent with standard communication practices.
The district said it had not received the governor’s letter directly at the time of the statement and learned of its contents only after it appeared online.
Cy-Fair ISD officials stressed that the district is not hosting the 2026 Houston Islamic Games and confirmed that no facility use agreements exist for the 2026–27 school year.
District leaders pointed to local policy GKD (LOCAL), which allows community groups to rent school facilities for non-school use, provided such use does not interfere with district operations or instructional programs.
According to the district, community groups logged nearly 13,000 hours of facility use during the 2024–25 school year. Those groups included youth sports organizations and churches representing multiple religious denominations.
The district emphasized that its facility use policy does not distinguish between religions and does not differentiate between religious and non-religious viewpoints when granting access.
Cy-Fair ISD acknowledged that it previously approved a facility use agreement with the Islamic Games of North America for an event held in September 2025. Officials said no agreement has ever existed with CAIR New Jersey.
District leaders said they were unaware of any affiliation between the Islamic Games of North America and CAIR New Jersey at the time of the 2025 facility rental.
The district stated it is aware of the state prohibition on government entities contracting with organizations designated as foreign terrorist groups and said it has complied with that law.
Online listings on the Islamic Games of North America website reference Houston-area events planned for September or October 2026 and include an events map that identifies Sprague Middle School as a potential location.
Cy-Fair ISD officials said those listings do not reflect finalized agreements. The district added that it will not accept facility reservation requests for the 2026–27 school year until August 1, 2026, when the reservation window officially opens.
It remains unclear whether the online listings represent confirmed agreements or preliminary planning from event organizers.
Earlier in the week, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in North Texas withdrew plans to host an Islamic Games event after learning of the governor’s designation of CAIR and the related state law restrictions.
That district cited the same designation and statutory prohibition in its decision to cancel.
Organizers of the Islamic Games said in a statement that CAIR has never been a sponsor, partner, affiliate, or supporter of the sports festival.
Islamic Games President Salaudeen Nausrudeen said organizers are concerned that a children’s sporting event has become the focus of controversy and expressed hope that the issue can be resolved.
