DeSantis Designates Major Muslim Civil Rights Group as Terrorist Organization
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday the designation of 90 groups as terrorist organizations under a state law, including CAIR, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the nation, despite the federal government not classifying it as such. The action, which went forward without public input, also targeted the Muslim Brotherhood and antifa among others. Civil rights groups including the ACLU plan to challenge the designations as unconstitutional and lacking any evidence of violent conduct.
Governor DeSantis's action represents the first major implementation of Florida's H.B. 1471, legislation passed earlier in 2026 that grants state officials independent authority to designate terrorist organizations without federal coordination. This diverges sharply from standard practice, where such designations typically align with federal determinations. The State Department's decision not to classify CAIR as a terrorist entity underscores the disconnect between state and federal assessments.
The designation carries material consequences beyond symbolic labeling. DeSantis's December executive order already restricted CAIR's access to state resources, a deprivation that legal challenges claimed violated constitutional protections. Tuesday's formal designation may expand those restrictions and complicate the organization's operations within Florida.
The designations could significantly impact civil liberties and free speech protections in Florida. Muslim advocacy organizations and their supporters may face operational obstacles and resource constraints, while the state's unilateral authority could establish precedent for similar designations of other groups. Legal challenges may ultimately determine whether states can independently classify organizations as terrorist entities—a ruling with implications extending beyond Florida's borders and potentially affecting how civil rights groups operate nationwide.