USA09 December, 20252 min read
CAIR Florida Announces Lawsuit Against Gov. Ron DeSantis After He Labels Group a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization'
Governor DeSantis issued an executive order designating CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations CAIR's Florida chapter announced plans to sue, calling the designation unconstitutional and defamatory
14 outlets told this the same way.
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State actions against CAIR
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order labeling the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) — and, according to some reports, the Muslim Brotherhood — as "foreign terrorist organizations" and directed state agencies to bar the groups and anyone who provided them material support from state contracts, employment, or agency funds. Multiple outlets report that DeSantis posted the order on X and noted that Texas took a similar step last month. CAIR-Florida and national CAIR immediately announced plans to sue, calling the designation unconstitutional and defamatory.
“The order instructs state agencies to bar the two groups and anyone who has provided them material support from receiving state contracts, employment or funds from executive or cabinet agencies.”
CAIR Florida legal response
CAIR-Florida leaders held a news conference and vowed litigation. Hiba Rahim, identified in different outlets as either interim executive director or deputy executive director, called the order defamatory, unconstitutional and grounded in conspiracy theories.
CAIR's policy director and lawyers told reporters they view the action as an attempt to scapegoat Muslims and to silence criticism of U.S. policy toward Israel. CAIR said it expects to defeat the order in court, cited prior instances where the state backed down, and is pursuing similar legal challenges in Texas.
Debate over CAIR designation
Legal experts and international reporting note the practical limits of a state-level designation: only the federal government can formally list a foreign terrorist organization, and CAIR is a domestic group with U.S. chapters and employees. Al Jazeera and other outlets present this as a reason the order may be largely symbolic, yet harmful politically and socially. DeSantis, by contrast, framed the designation as overdue and said he welcomed the lawsuit, signaling he expects further legislative action and possibly wider scrutiny of CAIR's finances.
“DeSantis said he welcomes the lawsuit, saying it would allow the state to subpoena CAIR’s bank records.”
Political context of designation
Several outlets place the action in the broader political context. CAIR and its Florida chapter allege the governor prioritized the Israeli government, citing actions such as diverting state funds into Israeli bonds and threatening to shut down Students for Justice in Palestine chapters.
CAIR also links the designation to recent advocacy on behalf of a detained Palestinian-American. DeSantis's allies and some local coverage frame the move as a law-and-order or national-security posture, while others view it as politically motivated theater.
CAIR legal response and impact
CAIR says it will pursue federal court challenges, including actions connected to a parallel case in Texas, and expressed confidence it can prevail. News outlets note CAIR’s history of post‑9/11 litigation and prior cases where states backed down.
“CAIR has been involved in multiple post‑9/11 lawsuits with the federal government, advocating for people it says were wrongly placed on the government’s secret terrorism watchlist.”
Observers diverge on likely outcomes: some emphasize the symbolic nature and legal hurdles for the state designation, while others focus on political consequences, possible subpoenas, and proposed legislative follow-up. The dispute is likely to proceed through the courts and public debate in Florida and might shape how other state governments approach similar political declarations.
