Governor Ron DeSantis just issued a massive executive order declaring the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a US civil rights and liberties group known as CAIR, a foreign terrorist organization, according to the Guardian. This is a huge move that became effective immediately, and the legal backlash is already promising to deliver a massive blow to the state.
CAIR and its supporters wasted absolutely no time fighting back. They are among those who have dismissed the order as blatant Islamophobia. The national and Florida CAIR chapters called the order a “stunt” in their statement. They publicly accused the governor of signing a “defamatory and unconstitutional order baselessly smearing” their organization.
CAIR has already vowed to sue Florida, just as it has sued Texas over a similar declaration. It is important to remember that despite these gubernatorial orders, only the federal government actually has the power to officially designate a group as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).
This isn’t the first time a Republican governor has tried to make this designation
DeSantis is closely following a similar order issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott back in November. DeSantis’s order doesn’t just target CAIR. It also targets the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist group founded in 1928. Notably, neither the Muslim Brotherhood nor CAIR is currently on the US government’s official list of designated FTO groups.
The justification for DeSantis’s declaration centers on alleged historical ties. The order claims that CAIR was “founded by persons connected to the Muslim Brotherhood,” which the order then connects to Hamas and the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. CAIR has consistently denied any ties to either the Muslim Brotherhood or Hamas, which has been at the receiving end of military threats from the likes of JD Vance.
So, what does this order actually mean for Floridians? DeSantis stated on X that Florida agencies are now “directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support.” This is definitely going to complicate things for anyone who works with or supports CAIR’s mission.
The governor is also pushing for permanent legislative action. He said that members of the Florida legislature “are crafting legislation to stop the creep of sharia law, and I hope that they codify these protections for Floridians against Cair and the Muslim Brotherhood in their legislation.”
CAIR insisted in their statement that CAIR-Florida is an American civil rights organization that has spent decades advancing free speech, religious freedom, and justice for all, including for the people of Palestine. The groups also argued that DeSantis is prioritizing “serving the Israeli government over serving the people of Florida.” They accused the governor and Abbott of wanting “to smear and silence Americans, especially American Muslims,” who criticize the US’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
It looks like we are about to see a massive and expensive legal battle unfold in Florida, mirroring the one already underway in Texas. This whole situation feels like a major political escalation that will require the courts to sort out.
Published: Dec 9, 2025 06:00 pm