The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has opened a federal investigation into the East Plano Islamic Center housing development over potential housing discrimination, expanding scrutiny of the Collin County project already under review by the State of Texas.
HUD officials announced the probe Friday, saying the inquiry will examine whether the development may have violated the federal Fair Housing Act through possible religious or national origin discrimination. The state began its own investigation about two months earlier, focusing on how the community was planned and marketed.
The proposed development is tied to the East Plano Islamic Center and has drawn strong public attention from both supporters and critics. Advocates describe the project as a faith-centered community similar to others across the country, while opponents have raised concerns about whether housing access could be limited based on religion.
Federal investigators will review documents, policies and communications connected to the project to determine whether housing opportunities were offered equally to all applicants, as required by federal law. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing sales, rentals and advertising based on religion, race, national origin and other protected classes.
State officials previously opened their review to determine whether local and state regulations were followed during planning and development. The federal investigation operates separately and focuses specifically on potential civil rights violations.
No criminal charges have been filed, and the investigation does not indicate wrongdoing. Instead, it begins a formal fact-finding process that can take months and could result in either dismissal, voluntary changes to policies, or enforcement action if violations are found.
Local leaders say the case could set precedent for how religiously affiliated developments are evaluated in Texas, where similar community proposals have increased in recent years.
The project remains in the planning and review stage while both investigations continue.
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