Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) moved to label the Council on American-Islamic Relations as a domestic terrorist organization [1].
These actions represent a significant expansion of state power to designate private organizations as security threats. The moves target one of the largest Muslim civil-rights groups in the U.S., potentially impacting its ability to operate and provide legal services within these states [1].
Gov. Abbott added the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR, to the Texas terrorist-organization list [3]. The designation follows the enactment of a new state law that grants the governor authority to label groups as domestic terrorist organizations [1].
In Florida, Gov. DeSantis said he intended to use a similar state law to label the group a domestic terrorist organization [1]. DeSantis said concerns regarding extremist activity were the basis for the designation [5].
However, the Florida designation has not yet been finalized. The state government paused the plan to label the organization after CAIR filed a lawsuit to block the action [2].
Both governors are utilizing newly enacted legislation to bypass federal standards for terrorism designations. These laws allow state executives to identify groups they deem threats to public safety without the specific oversight typically required by federal agencies [1, 5].
CAIR has long served as a nonprofit focused on civil rights, and advocacy for the Muslim community. The group has challenged the legality of these state-level designations in court, arguing that the moves infringe upon constitutional rights [2].
“Texas adds the Muslim civil-rights group to its terrorist list.”
The use of state-level terrorism lists creates a fragmented legal landscape where an organization may be legal in one state but designated as a terrorist entity in another. This shift allows state executives to exercise significant discretionary power over civil society groups, potentially bypassing federal due process and creating a precedent for the targeting of political or religious advocacy groups.
