Governor Greg Abbott personally ordered the shutdown of an unauthorized Islamic university in Texas that was illegally recruiting students and offering degrees without state approval, raising serious concerns about educational fraud and regulatory evasion.
Story Highlights
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued cease-and-desist order against Texas American Muslim University at Dallas on May 7, 2026
- The institution operated without required state authorization, illegally marketed STEM degrees combined with mandatory Islamic studies
- Governor Abbott threatened prosecution through Attorney General Ken Paxton if the entity failed to comply with the shutdown order
- The operation advertised special programs for Pakistani students to bypass U.S. visa requirements while offering unaccredited degrees
Unauthorized Institution Marketed Illegal Degrees
Texas American Muslim University at Dallas operated from a Richardson address shared with the Dallas Diyanet Mosque and Islamic Seminary of America, promoting itself as the first U.S. university combining STEM degrees with mandatory Islamic studies comprising roughly 30 percent of coursework. The entity lacked the Certificate of Authority required under Texas Education Code Chapter 61 for degree-granting institutions and illegally used protected terms like “university” in its marketing materials. The institution advertised programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and health informatics while recruiting students both domestically and internationally, including special initiatives targeting Pakistani students that claimed to circumvent standard U.S. visa processes.
State Regulators Issue Immediate Shutdown Order
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued a cease-and-desist letter on May 7, 2026, signed by Associate Commissioner Daniel R. Perez, demanding the institution halt all advertising and student enrollment activities by May 8 or face severe penalties. Governor Abbott personally directed the enforcement action, publicly stating that Texas will not tolerate illegal educational institutions operating within state borders. The order threatened escalation to criminal and civil prosecution under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act if the entity failed to comply, with Attorney General Ken Paxton standing ready to pursue legal action. This represents a straightforward application of consumer protection laws designed to prevent diploma mills from defrauding students with worthless credentials.
Local Political Support Complicated Enforcement
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar publicly supported the unauthorized institution and assisted in securing its location before state regulators intervened, raising questions about local officials enabling entities that bypass state oversight. The mayor’s involvement drew criticism from conservative advocacy groups like Texas Family Project, which supported the state’s crackdown. A planned public event promoting the institution was canceled in early May 2026 amid mounting scrutiny. The founder, Shahid A. Bajwa, responded to the shutdown order by claiming the organization remained a nonprofit pursuing proper authorizations and had not yet conferred any degrees, though state regulators found evidence of active advertising and student recruitment for unauthorized degree programs.
Enforcement Protects Students From Educational Fraud
The shutdown prevents potential harm to students who might have invested time and money in degrees lacking accreditation or state recognition, which would render their credentials worthless in the job market and for further education. Texas maintains strict regulations against unauthorized degree-granting institutions to combat diploma mills that exploit students while undermining legitimate educational standards. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has previously shut down multiple unaccredited entities attempting similar operations. This case underscores the importance of verifying institutional accreditation before enrollment, particularly when entities make extraordinary claims about unique educational models or special visa arrangements. Students misled into enrolling in unauthorized programs face potential loss of tuition payments and wasted academic effort pursuing invalid credentials.
Broader Implications For Educational Oversight
The enforcement action demonstrates Texas’s commitment to maintaining educational integrity regardless of an institution’s religious or cultural affiliations, applying the same regulatory standards to all entities claiming degree-granting authority. The case may deter other unaccredited operations from attempting to bypass state oversight by emphasizing religious or cultural components while lacking proper authorization. While faith-integrated education remains legally permissible, institutions must complete the standard accreditation process and obtain required state approvals before advertising or conferring degrees. The incident reinforces that no educational entity operates above state consumer protection laws designed to prevent fraud and protect students from worthless credentials that could damage their career prospects and financial security.
Muslims Tried To Open an Islamic University in Texas, Then THIS HAPPENED…
Muslims tried to offer Degrees in Texas with required Muslim programs, no permission asked for from the State.
Shut down immediately b y Texas.https://t.co/hZqOLcMESm— Mark Eugene (@CrotalusHH) May 13, 2026
As of May 13, 2026, the institution has reportedly ceased operations in compliance with the state order, though no formal confirmation of complete compliance or further enforcement actions has been publicly announced. The founder’s statement indicated intentions to pursue legitimate authorization channels, though the institution remains prohibited from advertising or enrolling students while lacking required approvals. This case serves as a reminder that educational institutions must navigate proper regulatory channels before launching operations, regardless of their mission or cultural focus, to protect both students and the integrity of higher education credentials.
Sources:
Texas Scorecard – State Board Orders Muslim University in Dallas To Shut Down
JNS.org – Texas Ed Board Orders Self-Described Muslim University to Halt Operations
Texas Family Project – Muslim University Shut Down by State Officials
