A proposed Muslim-centric development outside of Dallas is sparking national controversy and high-level investigations, with Texas Senator John Cornyn now urging the Department of Justice to probe whether the project could violate constitutional protections for non-Muslims.

Cornyn’s call comes on the heels of concerns raised by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has already launched multiple state-level investigations into the East Plano Islamic Center’s (EPIC) plan to construct what is being referred to as “EPIC City” — a 402-acre master-planned community described as designed primarily for Muslims. The development is slated to include a mosque, a K-12 faith-based school, senior living spaces, a sports complex, commercial businesses, and over 1,000 homes.

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Cornyn asked the DOJ to investigate whether the community would be open to all religious groups or if it would discriminate against Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslims in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. “A master-planned ‘community of thousands of Muslims’ could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans, by preventing them from living in this new community and discriminating against them within the community,” Cornyn wrote.

Cornyn added that while religious freedom is a core American value, “religious-based discrimination is a constitutional violation as well as a federal rights violation.” His concern isn’t just about theoretical legal issues — he also encouraged the DOJ to examine whether the community would operate under Islamic Sharia law, something Governor Abbott has already stated would be illegal in the state of Texas.

Abbott has taken a hard line on the issue, stating unequivocally that “Sharia cities are not allowed in Texas.” In early April, he blocked EPIC from proceeding with construction due to what he described as a failure to obtain necessary authorizations and permits. In addition to Abbott’s executive action, several state agencies — including the Texas Rangers, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Securities Board — are conducting investigations into the development and its financial and legal structure.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton added fuel to the fire during an interview with Blaze Media founder Glenn Beck, revealing that the same attorney defending EPIC City’s developers, Dan Cogdell, had recently represented Paxton himself in his impeachment trial. Paxton admitted this creates a “potential conflict of interest” and said he was not informed that Cogdell was representing the developers currently under state investigation.

In response to the mounting criticism, EPIC and its development partner Community Capital Partners are pushing back hard against accusations of religious discrimination or attempts to implement Sharia law. The developer issued a statement calling the political response “a coordinated smear campaign” and “racial profiling.” “No one associated with EPIC, no one associated with that community follows Sharia law or is in favor of Sharia law,” Cogdell told local media. He accused Governor Abbott of spreading “lies, false information, and nonsense.”

Community Capital Partners echoed that sentiment in a statement to the Dallas Morning News, claiming that the planned city “will be inclusive and open to all,” and that the allegations being made are rooted in fear, misinformation, and political opportunism. “We will continue to work to create a diverse, safe and inclusive community — one in which everyone is welcome and people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony,” the group said.

But critics remain skeptical. They point to the project’s branding as explicitly Muslim-centric and the initial promotional materials, which reportedly referred to creating a “safe haven” for Muslims in America — language some see as exclusionary and raising red flags about who will actually be welcome in the community.

Cornyn’s request to the DOJ significantly escalates what began as a state-level matter. If the DOJ decides to act on his request, it could become a landmark case balancing religious freedom, zoning laws, and equal protection under federal civil rights statutes.

The future of EPIC City — and its legal fate — is now uncertain. But with both the state and federal governments scrutinizing the project, and with a growing chorus of voices warning about the potential for religious segregation, one thing is clear: Texas is not likely to allow the creation of any community, Muslim or otherwise, that violates the principle of religious equality under the law.