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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced an executive order on Monday that has sparked significant concern and controversy among Muslim communities, civil rights groups, and legal experts nationwide. The order labels the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, along with the Muslim Brotherhood, as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
This action follows a similar order issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott a month prior, which CAIR is actively contesting in federal court. With Florida now adopting a comparable stance, the legal and political debate surrounding these organizations has expanded notably.
Unlike previous high-profile public announcements, DeSantis opted for a more subdued method by releasing the order via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating it would become effective immediately. The move swiftly caused apprehension within Muslim communities and civil rights circles across the U.S., especially as it marks the first instance where two major states aim to designate a longstanding civil rights organization as a terrorist entity—a group that has operated in U.S. courts and legislative chambers for over 30 years, defending constitutional rights, civil liberties, and religious freedoms.
CAIR’s national headquarters and its Florida chapter jointly condemned the order, calling it unconstitutional, malicious, and baseless, asserting they would challenge the order in federal court. They emphasized that DeSantis is aware CAIR-Florida is a legitimate American civil rights organization dedicated to advocating for free speech, religious liberty, civil rights, and justice for Palestinians, and that this targeting is purely political.
The order claims that some CAIR founders allegedly had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, an organization that has come under increased scrutiny following the October 7, 2023, attack and subsequent security discussions. It attempts to conflate CAIR with Hamas by highlighting supposed ideological links to the Muslim Brotherhood, but CAIR has consistently denied any such connections, affirming it has no association with Hamas or similar groups.
While Texas’s order specifically prohibits CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood from purchasing property within the state, Florida’s order stops short of property restrictions but issues broad directives to state agencies. They are instructed not to award contracts, grants, employment, or any state benefits to these groups or anyone associated with them.
Furthermore, the order mandates Florida’s Domestic Security Oversight Council to review existing laws and suggest additional measures against these organizations, with recommendations due by January 6, 2026.
Politically, the order fits into a broader pattern of criticism against DeSantis for his aggressive stance toward American Muslims and pro-Palestinian groups. CAIR points out that DeSantis has had an active engagement with Israel—from holding his first cabinet meeting in Israel to investing Florida taxpayer dollars into Israeli bonds and attempting to clamp down on university chapters supporting Palestine—a move that CAIR challenged successfully in court.
They accuse DeSantis of systematically attempting to silence Muslim voices and marginalize critics of U.S. policies toward Israel. CAIR describes him as an “Israel First” politician prioritizing foreign interests over the U.S. Constitution and civil liberties. They assert that the governor’s previous unconstitutional actions have been pushed back in courts, but now he is attempting to smear and label CAIR falsely to serve political ends. CAIR vows to fight this order legally and urges Americans to voice opposition to it.
Legal challenges are already underway. Last month, the Muslim Legal Fund of America, CAIR Legal Defense Fund, and prominent attorneys filed suit against Texas officials for attempting to designate CAIR as a terrorist organization without due process. The Florida order deepens these constitutional questions as similar legal battles unfold nationwide.
These developments have created a critical moment for American Muslims, amid heightened surveillance, suspicion, and incidents—such as fraud scandals and shootings involving individuals from Muslim communities. The effort by Florida and Texas to label CAIR as a terrorist group represents a serious attack on civil liberties, federal constitutional principles, and the identity of Muslim Americans. As this confrontation unfolds, the coming months will be pivotal in shaping the future of protections for minority communities and civil rights in the United States.
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