A new institution called TexAM University at Dallas is drawing scrutiny over its accreditation status, overseas student recruiting, and public support from Richardson Mayor Amir Omar.
The school lists a physical address at 1100 E. Campbell Road in Richardson — a building also associated with the Dallas Diyanet Mosque and the Islamic Seminary of America — and is advertising Spring 2026 admissions across four undergraduate programs and a master’s program in “Artificial Intelligence,” with a discounted tuition rate of $99 per three-credit course for “overseas students.”
TexAM’s website, reviewed by The Dallas Express, does not appear to list an accreditation agency.
Accreditation matters because students, employers, and other schools rely on accrediting bodies to determine whether a degree carries recognized academic weight. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) says it accredits more than 780 institutions and requires schools to comply with its Principles of Accreditation.
The Dallas Express asked TexAM multiple times to clarify its accreditation status and whether it has authorization to award degrees in Texas. TexAM did not respond by press time.
Richardson Mayor Publicly Praises TexAM
In the video, Omar offered to connect TexAM’s programs with local employers seeking interns and new hires, joked that he had already “picked out” office space for the university’s second campus, and said that helping the school succeed would be part of what makes his tenure as mayor “successful.”
The New Palestinian mayor of Richardson Texas is representing the first Muslims only University in north Texas pic.twitter.com/A3Nhb3pD6X
— Bob (@Shariakill) May 4, 2026
TexAM’s promotional materials also emphasize overseas students, including through a “Special Initiative for Pakistani Students.”
TexAM combines STEM programs with required Islamic studies and advertises discounted tuition rates aimed at international students.
Gill Raises Alarm As TexAM Draws Scrutiny
Gill, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, has introduced the Student Visa Integrity Act of 2026 (H.R. 7063), which would tighten oversight of student visa programs.
“Studying in the United States is a privilege, not a right. Unfortunately, a system intended to spread the American dream has been abused by fraudsters and bad actors,” Gill said in a January press release announcing the bill.
The H-1B Context
The scrutiny of TexAM comes as Paxton has expanded his investigation into alleged H-1B visa abuse across North Texas.
On April 30, his office issued Civil Investigative Demands to nearly 30 Texas businesses suspected of operating “ghost offices” — alleged sham operations used to falsely represent active businesses in order to sponsor foreign workers for H-1B visas. Named companies include Tekpro IT LLC, Fame PBX LLC, 1st Ranking Technologies LLC, Qubitz Tech Systems LLC, Blooming Clouds LLC, Virat Solutions Inc., Oak Technologies Inc., Techpath Inc., and Techquency LLC.
“I will not allow the H-1B program to be abused by bad actors seeking to use it as a loophole for allowing foreign nationals to invade Texas,” Paxton said. “My office will continue working to uncover and put an end to fraud within the H-1B program.”
As The Dallas Express has previously reported, federal authorities indicted two Dallas-area men in 2025 in an alleged immigration fraud scheme involving H-1B and employment-based green card applications.
Federal prosecutors alleged Abdul Hadi Murshid and Muhammad Salman Nasir participated in a more than seven-year scheme involving fraudulent H-1B visa applications and employment-based green cards. The law presumes both men are innocent unless prosecutors prove guilt in court.
Paxton’s office has not named TexAM in its H-1B investigation, and The Dallas Express has not reviewed evidence directly connecting the school to alleged visa fraud.
Still, its overseas recruiting, accreditation questions, mandatory Islamic studies coursework, and public backing from Richardson’s mayor have placed the institution under growing scrutiny.
