Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order designating CAIR as a “foreign terrorist organization” on Tuesday. The move makes him the second high-profile Republican governor to take similar action recently. The order targets the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Florida chapter. It cites alleged ties to Hamas in the October 2023 attacks on Israel.
CAIR’s Florida chapter immediately announced a lawsuit challenging the order. At a Tampa press conference, interim executive director Hiba Rahim called it “defamatory and unconstitutional.” She said the designation has no legal or factual basis. Rahim also urged the governor to reconsider his actions. The organization vowed to fight the order in court.
DeSantis’ order alleges CAIR has links to Hamas, responsible for attacks in Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people. It also cited broader concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt. The US government has not designated CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. President Donald Trump recently began the process for some Muslim Brotherhood chapters abroad.
The order instructs Florida agencies to prevent CAIR from receiving state contracts, funding, or employment opportunities. DeSantis said the lawsuit could allow the state to examine CAIR’s financial records. He welcomed the legal challenge as an opportunity for discovery. Officials argued that the measure protects state resources and ensures accountability.
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Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a similar designation against CAIR. The Texas order also faced a legal challenge in federal court. CAIR argued the designation in Texas was an unconstitutional punishment based solely on the organization’s views. The Florida case mirrors these legal arguments and raises similar constitutional questions.
CAIR was founded in 1994 and operates chapters in nearly two dozen US states. It is one of the country’s most prominent Muslim civil rights organizations. The organization focuses on advocacy, legal aid, and civil rights education. Leaders insist it has no connections to Hamas or terrorist activities.
The international context of the order remains sensitive. Israel’s response to Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 70,000 people, according to local authorities. The designation may increase scrutiny of Muslim organizations in the US. Meanwhile, CAIR promises to continue its advocacy and legal fight against the executive order.