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Florida Joins Texas in Labeling CAIR a Terrorist Organization—Lawsuits Imminent

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4 months ago

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order this week, on December 8, 2025, designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations,” a move that has ignited fierce backlash from civil rights advocates and drawn parallels to similar actions in Texas.

Details of the Order

The order, titled “Protecting Floridians from Radical Islamic Terrorist Organizations,” was posted by DeSantis on the social platform X and took effect immediately, prohibiting state agencies from engaging with the groups and urging local law enforcement to monitor their activities.

In his announcement, DeSantis stated, “Florida is designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. Florida will not tolerate these groups or their supporters.” 

The governor justified the designation by citing alleged ties between CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, which he described as a radical Islamist network with connections to Hamas and other extremist entities. He emphasized that the order aims to safeguard Floridians from “radical Islamic terrorism” and prevent the groups from operating under the guise of civil rights advocacy.

DeSantis also referenced recent pro-Palestinian protests and what he called “anti-Semitic activities” on college campuses as part of the rationale, though the order does not specify evidence of direct involvement by CAIR in such events.

CAIR’s Response & Legal Challenge

Not surprisingly, CAIR and its Florida chapter swiftly condemned the order as baseless, unconstitutional, and politically motivated. In a joint press release issued Monday evening, the organizations described it as an “Israel-first political stunt” rooted in “discredited conspiracy theories” and lacking any legal or factual foundation. They argued that the designation violates First Amendment rights to free speech and association, as well as due process protections, and vowed to challenge it in court. “See you in court,” the statement directly addressed DeSantis, signaling an imminent lawsuit to block the order.

Press Conference Coverage

CAIR-Florida held a news conference today in Tampa to announce the legal action, where Deputy Executive Director Hiba Rahim called the order an “attack on minority groups meant to sow fear and division.”

Rahim compared the smear to historical prejudices against Jewish, Irish, and Italian Americans, stressing CAIR’s “America first” commitment and its advocacy for Palestinian rights, including the recent release of a detained Palestinian-American teen from Israeli custody. “We will not back down here,” she affirmed. Additionally, CAIR sent a formal letter to DeSantis debunking the claims, highlighting its role as a defender of U.S. constitutional values and rejecting any ties to terrorism.

Attorney Miranda Margolis of the National Lawyers Guild, speaking at the conference, labeled it a “dangerous escalation of anti-Muslim political rhetoric” and argued that DeSantis lacks the authority to unilaterally declare a nonprofit a terrorist group.

Conservative Commentary on the Announcement

On X, Founder & Editor-in-Chief – RAIR Foundation Amy Mek, posted the following as a call to action to other red states along with information regarding CAIR: “CAIR’s meltdown press conference after Governor DeSantis’s designation wasn’t a show of strength – it was a public admission of just how massive and deeply embedded their political machine has become in American institutions”.

“Behind the podium stood CAIR-Florida’s furious interim director Hiba Rahim – rattled, defensive, and clinging to the same old talking points: victimhood, “Islamophobia,” and the recycled “civil rights” shield.

But in her rambling attempt to play the victim, she accidentally reminded Americans of the truth:

CAIR isn’t small.

CAIR isn’t local.

CAIR isn’t harmless.

CAIR is a national Muslim Brotherhood-tied political powerhouse with institutional tentacles everywhere”.

DeSantis Responds, Welcomes Legal Battle

DeSantis welcomed the anticipated legal challenge, describing the designation as “a long time coming” and expressing eagerness to defend it in court.

“I welcome the lawsuit,” he said in another statement, adding that he plans to push for legislative measures in January 2026 to codify similar restrictions and expand state authority over such groups.

Texas Took Similar Action in November

Florida’s move follows a similar executive order by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on November 18, 2025, which designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR’s Texas chapter as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations under the Texas Penal Code. Abbott’s proclamation aimed to combat threats from groups he alleged supported terrorism, prohibiting state dealings with them and encouraging investigations into their activities.

CAIR has already filed a federal lawsuit against Abbott, claiming the order is unconstitutional and defamatory.

Texas Attorney General Paxton Expands Investigations

Compounding the Texas developments, Attorney General Ken Paxton has escalated scrutiny of Muslim organizations in the state. On December 5, 2025, Paxton filed a lawsuit against the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and related entities over an alleged “illegal land development scheme” for a proposed housing project called “The Meadow.” The suit accuses EPIC of violating securities laws through fraudulent fundraising practices, including misleading investors about the project’s viability on hundreds of acres of Texas land. Paxton’s office began investigating EPIC in March 2025 for potential consumer protection violations and, by October, uncovered evidence of illegal activities, requesting a referral to state securities regulators. While not directly naming CAIR in the lawsuit, the probe has been linked to broader concerns about radical Islamist networks, with Paxton describing the project as a “radical plot” to exploit Texas land.

Historical Background: CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood & HLF Trial

These actions in Florida and Texas are rooted in a long history of controversy surrounding CAIR’s alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and extremist groups. Founded in 1994, CAIR emerged from the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), which U.S. authorities have linked to the Muslim Brotherhood—a transnational Islamist organization established in Egypt in 1928 that has influenced groups like Hamas.

The pivotal moment came during the 2008 Holy Land Foundation (HLF) trial, where the U.S. government convicted HLF leaders of funneling millions to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the case, based on evidence suggesting it was part of a network supporting Hamas through the Muslim Brotherhood’s U.S. affiliates.

Federal prosecutors presented documents, including a 1994 memo outlining a strategy to advance Islamist goals in America, which referenced CAIR’s role.

CAIR has repeatedly denied these allegations, asserting that being an unindicted co-conspirator implies no wrongdoing and that the claims are part of Islamophobic conspiracy theories. The organization points to its work condemning terrorism, including Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, and its advocacy for Muslim civil rights.

Why This Matters

However, the HLF trial’s fallout has led to multiple state resolutions and congressional efforts urging government agencies to disassociate from CAIR, citing national security risks.

The Texas investigations, including Paxton’s suit against EPIC, connect to this history by probing potential ties between local Muslim developments and broader networks alleged to support extremism.

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