CAIR Suspends Florida Operations as State Terrorism Designation Takes Effect

The Council on American-Islamic Relations suspended its operations in Florida on November 5, when the state’s designation of the organization’s Florida chapter as a domestic terrorist organization took effect. The move followed a federal judge’s rejection of CAIR’s emergency request to prevent enforcement of the designation while its challenge proceeds.

Florida’s law allows officials to designate organizations as domestic terrorist groups and bars them from receiving state grants, securing government contracts, or obtaining other public benefits. It also sets criminal penalties for some forms of material support to designated groups. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last year designating CAIR and CAIR Florida as terrorist organizations.

DeSantis and other state officials have said CAIR is connected to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR denies the basis for the designation and says it is challenging the action in federal court on First Amendment and due-process grounds. The ACLU is among the organizations representing CAIR in the lawsuit.

The judge, Allen C. Winsor of the federal trial court serving northern Florida, declined to block the designation. ACLU senior counsel Ashley Gorski said the organization would appeal, arguing that the ruling gives state officials broad power to punish organizations labeled terrorist and threatens civil-rights advocacy.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called the designation a win for the state. CAIR described the action as unconstitutional and said state officials’ enforcement prompted its suspension of operations.

Florida’s CAIR Designation Raises First Amendment and Due-Process Alarms

Florida’s move against the Council on American-Islamic Relations is now disrupting the organization’s work in the state. CAIR suspended its Florida operations on November 5, as the designation of its state chapter as a domestic terrorist organization took effect.

A federal judge rejected CAIR’s emergency request to stop enforcement while its lawsuit proceeds. The organization is contesting the designation under protections for free expression and fair legal proceedings, with the ACLU among its legal representatives. ACLU senior counsel Ashley Gorski said the decision gives state officials sweeping power to penalize organizations they label terrorist and threatens civil-rights advocacy.

The Florida law lets the state deny designated organizations eligibility for public grants, government contracts, and additional benefits, and establishes criminal penalties for some forms of material support. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last year designating CAIR and CAIR Florida as terrorist organizations.

DeSantis and other state officials maintain that CAIR is connected to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR disputes the claims and calls the designation baseless and unconstitutional. Attorney General James Uthmeier praised the action, while Gorski said CAIR would appeal. The case puts the state’s power to apply its designation against an organization’s constitutional challenge directly at issue.

Florida Enforces Terrorism Designation as CAIR Halts State Operations

Florida’s domestic-terrorist designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ state chapter took effect on November 5, and CAIR responded by suspending its operations in the state. A federal judge declined to grant the organization’s emergency request to stop enforcement.

The state law gives officials authority to designate domestic terrorist groups and bars designated organizations from receiving state funds, winning government contracts, or obtaining other public benefits. It also provides criminal penalties for certain forms of material support. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last year designating CAIR and CAIR Florida as terrorist organizations.

DeSantis and other Florida officials say CAIR is connected to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR rejects the allegations and is challenging the designation in federal court on First Amendment and due-process grounds. The ACLU is among the groups representing it.

Attorney General James Uthmeier called the action a win for Florida. ACLU senior counsel Ashley Gorski said the organization would appeal, arguing that the ruling empowers state officials to punish groups they label terrorist and threatens civil-rights work. The designation remains in effect as CAIR’s legal challenge continues.