Texas Governor Designates CAIR as Terrorist Organization
In November 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an unprecedented proclamation designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations — the first time a U.S. state independently labeled an American civil rights organization a terrorist entity. Florida Governor DeSantis issued a copycat order in December. AG Paxton reversed course and sued to shut down all CAIR Texas chapters. CAIR filed federal lawsuits in both states, and a federal judge blocked the Florida order on First Amendment grounds in March 2026. The Texas case remains in litigation. CAIR documented a record 8,683 anti-Muslim discrimination complaints nationwide in 2025.
Timeline
March 10, 2026
CAIR Reports Record 8,683 Anti-Muslim Complaints in 2025
CAIR's annual civil rights report documented 8,683 complaints of anti-Muslim discrimination in 2025 — the highest since tracking began in 1996. Employment discrimination topped the list (1,101), followed by immigration (568) and hate incidents (555). Texas and Florida were among the highest-volume states.
SourceMarch 4, 2026
Federal Judge Blocks Florida's CAIR Terrorist Designation
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a temporary injunction blocking DeSantis's order, ruling it violated CAIR's First Amendment rights. Walker wrote: 'Once again, Florida chooses political posturing over the First Amendment.' First judicial rebuke of state-level CAIR designations.
SourceFebruary 5, 2026
Paxton Sues to Shut Down All CAIR Texas Chapters
AG Paxton filed a new state lawsuit seeking to ban all CAIR operations in Texas, including Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth chapters — reversing his earlier position that the proclamation didn't apply to local chapters. The suit seeks injunctions prohibiting CAIR from fundraising, recruiting, or engaging in any activity in the state.
SourceJanuary 13, 2026
Trump Admin Formally Designates Muslim Brotherhood Chapters
The State and Treasury departments formally designated Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The designations were branch-specific and did not apply to CAIR or any U.S.-based Muslim organizations.
SourceDecember 16, 2025
CAIR-Florida Sues DeSantis
CAIR-Florida filed a federal lawsuit challenging DeSantis's executive order as unconstitutional, arguing it usurps exclusive federal authority. The suit was supported by the SPLC and the Muslim Legal Fund of America.
SourceDecember 8, 2025
Florida Governor DeSantis Issues Copycat Designation
DeSantis signed an executive order designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, becoming the second state. The order directed all Florida agencies and local governments to deny contracts, employment, funding, and benefits to CAIR.
SourceDecember 6, 2025
Texas GOP Passes Resolution Supporting Designation
The Texas State Republican Executive Committee voted to applaud Abbott's proclamation, denouncing CAIR as an 'ideological threat' and encouraging vigorous prosecution.
SourceNovember 24, 2025
Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Muslim Brotherhood Chapters
President Trump signed EO 14362 directing evaluation of whether Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The order did not target CAIR or any U.S.-based Muslim organizations.
SourceNovember 21, 2025
Democrats and Civil Rights Groups Condemn Designation
Rep. Ilhan Omar called Abbott a 'bigot.' The Texas Democratic Party labeled the order 'dangerous, racist and Islamophobic.' The Interfaith Alliance called Abbott's attack on CAIR 'an attack on us all.'
SourceNovember 20, 2025
CAIR Files Federal Lawsuit Against Abbott and Paxton
CAIR's Legal Defense Fund and the Muslim Legal Fund of America filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleging the proclamation violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and federal preemption — arguing the power to designate foreign terrorist organizations belongs exclusively to the Secretary of State.
SourceNovember 18, 2025
Governor Abbott Designates CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under Texas Penal Code. The designation subjects both to asset forfeiture, criminal penalties, and a ban on purchasing land in Texas — the first time a U.S. state independently labeled an American civil rights organization a terrorist entity.
SourceNovember 18, 2025
Abbott Asks Treasury to Revoke CAIR's Tax-Exempt Status
On the same day, Abbott sent a letter to Treasury Secretary requesting the federal government revoke CAIR's tax-exempt nonprofit status and directed AG Paxton to investigate CAIR's nonprofit standing at the state level.
SourceJune 24, 2025
Federal Bill Introduced to Designate CAIR as Terrorist Org
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) introduced H.R. 4097, the 'Designate CAIR as a Terrorist Organization Act,' directing the Secretary of State to review whether CAIR meets criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization.
SourceQuick Stats