Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has unilaterally declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, a “foreign terrorist organization” for state purposes. This move, which comes despite the federal government’s refusal to do so, has been criticized for threatening free speech and due process while setting a dangerous precedent for state-level political targeting. The executive order directs Florida agencies to deny state contracts, employment, and funding to CAIR, prompting the organization to announce a lawsuit arguing the designation is unconstitutional and an attempt to silence criticism of the state’s policies.
Story Highlights
- DeSantis issued an executive order designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations for Florida state purposes, despite neither group appearing on the federal Foreign Terrorist Organizations list.
- The order directs Florida agencies to deny state contracts, employment, and funding to CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and anyone providing them “material support,” immediately restricting their operations in the state.
- CAIR, founded in 1994 with 25 chapters nationwide, has announced it will sue DeSantis, arguing the designation is unconstitutional, defamatory, and an attempt to silence civil rights advocacy and criticism of Israel policy.
- DeSantis is following Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s November 2025 proclamation targeting CAIR-Texas and the Muslim Brotherhood, which is already being challenged in federal court.
- The order raises serious constitutional concerns about First Amendment freedoms, due process, and whether states can unilaterally declare organizations terrorist entities without federal designation or judicial review.
A State Acting Alone Against Federal Terrorism Framework
The executive order marks a significant departure from established federal terrorism law. Under U.S. law, only the federal government—specifically the Secretary of State—possesses the authority to designate Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood currently appear on the State Department’s FTO list. By unilaterally creating its own “terrorist organization” designation, Florida is circumventing the federal process and imposing consequences without the legal safeguards that accompany formal federal designations. This creates a troubling precedent where individual states can weaponize terrorism rhetoric for political purposes.
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Florida is designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations pic.twitter.com/xFbqYcDkyc
— Culture War Report (@CultureWar2020) December 8, 2025
Targeting America’s Largest Muslim Civil Rights Organization
CAIR, established in 1994, operates 25 chapters across the United States and is widely recognized as the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. The group focuses on legal advocacy, combating discrimination, policy work, and public education about Islam. CAIR explicitly states it “unequivocally condemns all forms of terrorism,” including attacks by Hamas, and denies any organizational ties to the Muslim Brotherhood or Hamas. The designation effectively silences a major voice for Muslim Americans’ constitutional rights and religious freedoms, raising serious concerns about whether DeSantis is targeting CAIR for its political speech and advocacy rather than any legitimate security threat.
Material Support Language Expands the Reach Beyond Organizations
The order’s use of “material support” language extends restrictions beyond CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood themselves to any individual or entity deemed to have provided them support. This vague standard creates a chilling effect on free association and speech. Donors, volunteers, legal advisors, and anyone engaging with these organizations could face loss of state contracts, employment, or funding. Without clear definitions or due process procedures, individuals may be unable to know whether their actions constitute “material support,” effectively punishing political association and expression protected by the First Amendment.
DeSantis Follows Texas in a Coordinated State-Level Push
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a similar proclamation on November 18, 2025, labeling CAIR-Texas and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. CAIR and allied legal groups immediately filed a federal lawsuit challenging Abbott’s action as unconstitutional and unsupported by Texas law. DeSantis’s Florida order mirrors Abbott’s approach, suggesting a coordinated Republican strategy to use state executive power to target Muslim organizations. The Texas lawsuit will serve as the first major legal test of whether states can unilaterally impose terrorism designations, making the Florida case part of a broader constitutional battle.
Constitutional Vulnerabilities in DeSantis’s Order
CAIR’s announced lawsuit will likely challenge the order on multiple constitutional grounds. First Amendment protections for freedom of association and political speech are directly implicated when the state labels organizations terrorist entities based on their advocacy positions. Due process concerns arise from the absence of procedures, notice, or opportunity to be heard before the designation takes effect. Federal preemption questions whether states possess authority to create parallel terrorism frameworks that conflict with federal law. Additionally, CAIR may argue the designation constitutes defamation—an official state label of “terrorist organization” without adjudication or evidence, damaging reputation and livelihood without recourse.
DeSantis’s Broader Pro-Israel Record Provides Context
The order aligns with DeSantis’s documented pattern of strong pro-Israel positions and hostility toward pro-Palestinian activism. He held Florida’s first official cabinet meeting in Israel, invested state taxpayer funds in Israeli government bonds, and attempted to shut down Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters on Florida campuses—actions CAIR successfully challenged in court. By tying CAIR to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, DeSantis frames the designation as a security measure, but critics argue it targets CAIR primarily for its criticism of U.S. and Israeli policy, effectively punishing political dissent under the guise of counterterrorism.
Legislative Codification and Escalation Ahead
DeSantis announced on X that Florida legislators are drafting bills to block “sharia law encroachment” and to reinforce the anti-CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood stance. If passed, legislation would transform the executive order’s restrictions into permanent law, making them harder to overturn and potentially expanding the scope of enforcement. This legislative follow-up signals that the executive order is not an isolated action but part of a sustained campaign to marginalize Muslim civil society in Florida, raising concerns about systematic suppression of a religious minority’s advocacy rights.
Watch the report: BREAKING: Florida Declared CAIR, To Be a Foreign Terrorist Organization – YouTube
Sources:
DeSantis: Muslim civil rights group CAIR terrorist organization
Florida labels Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations
US Muslim group plans lawsuit against Florida governor over foreign terrorist designation
Florida designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR
