The Texas chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the anti-Asian and anti-immigrant remarks directed at Texas Representative Gene Wu.
State Senator Mayes Middleton accused Representative Wu of being “back in China” and “putting China first, Texas second.” These remarks came after Texas House Democrats left the state to break quorum amid a mid-decade redistricting effort advanced by Governor Abbott, following calls from former President Trump, with the stated goal of drawing maps more favorable to Republicans ahead of the 2026 elections.
SEE: Texas House Democrat Gene Wu says state senator’s anti-Asian comments “don’t bother” him
John Floyd, a CAIR National and CAIR-Texas Houston Board Member, said:
“Representative Wu is a respected Houston legislator who has served for over a decade and continues to courageously stand up for fair representation and the constitutional principles that make our nation strong. These remarks do more than demean one public servant—they target the growing Asian American community in Texas, striking at the heart of our shared American commitment to liberty, equality, and justice for all.
Representative Wu has consistently fought alongside working-class Americans of every race, faith, and background. To attack him with racist tropes is to attack the very ideals enshrined in our Constitution. This kind of hatemongering is un-American and has no place in the great national debate that is the lifeblood of our democracy.”
“Senator Middleton’s anti-Asian and anti-immigrant rhetoric against one of the few Asian American legislators in Texas is deeply disgusting,” said Sameeha Rizvi, Civic Engagement Organizer at CAIR-Texas Austin. “Dangerous language from public figures incites hatred and violence toward marginalized communities. Representative Wu has long been an ally of the Muslim community. We must take this vile language seriously, especially amid state-driven attacks on immigrants that include property ownership bans, detentions, and deportations based solely on immigration status.”
CAIR-Texas further underscores this with national civil rights data showing escalating Islamophobia.
CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging systemic anti-Black racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
In 2024, CAIR received 8,658 complaints, the highest on record, with common cases involving immigration discrimination. In 2025, CAIR confirms Islamophobia remains at an all-time high, with a notable shift toward targeting communities for their anti-genocide and anti-apartheid viewpoints.
SEE: 2024 Civil Rights Report: Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate
SEE: 2025 Civil Rights Report: Unconstitutional Crackdowns
CAIR-Texas calls on elected officials, community leaders, and allies to reject prejudice in all forms and hold accountable those who weaponize language to marginalize communities.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: John T. Floyd, CAIR National Board Member, CAIR-Texas Houston, 713-254-2016, jfloyd@cair.com; Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR-Texas Austin Civic Engagement Organizer, 512-893-1371, srizvi@cair.com