[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [POLITICS]

3 clusters · 10 sources · 58 days · First seen · Last updated

US state and federal actions against CAIR

Overview

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has faced designation as a terrorist organization by authorities in Texas and Florida. Initial scrutiny followed reports regarding the group’s transfer of its Washington, D.C., headquarters to the Sage Foundation for ten dollars, an opaque transaction involving individuals linked to CAIR.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis later designated CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization, citing its role as an unindicted co-conspirator in a terror financing trial. This move coincided with reports that the Trump administration, through the Treasury Department and the IRS, was considering revoking the tax-exempt status of several nonprofit organizations, including CAIR. These administrative actions have faced legal opposition from groups such as Protect Democracy, which allege the weaponization of the tax code against political opponents.

In September 2026, the Florida Cabinet, led by Governor DeSantis, expanded these actions by designating over 90 domestic and foreign entities as terrorist organizations under a new law, HB 1471. CAIR was included in this list alongside the Muslim Brotherhood and the antifa movement.

In response, CAIR filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, alleging the designations violate the First Amendment and the 14th Amendment’s due process clause. The ACLU National Security Project has also signaled its intent to seek a preliminary injunction, asserting there is no evidence CAIR has engaged in violent or illegal acts.

Entities

Council on American-Islamic Relations · Ron DeSantis · Eyas Abdeen · Lena Masri · Scott Bessent

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 8 sources
    Florida Cabinet designates over 90 groups as terrorist organizations

    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet designated over 90 groups, including CAIR and antifa, as terrorist organizations, sparking immediate legal challenges regarding constitutional rights.

  2. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Florida Governor DeSantis designates CAIR as a terrorist organization

    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has designated CAIR as a terrorist organization as the Trump administration considers revoking the tax-exempt status of several major nonprofits.

  3. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Council on American-Islamic Relations Designated Terrorist Organization in Texas and Florida

    CAIR was labeled a terrorist group in Texas and Florida. Earlier, it sold its D.C. headquarters to the little‑known Sage Foundation for $10, with CAIR staff listed as the foundation’s officers and a law firm’s

Sources

cltampa.com · dominicanaaldia.com · freerepublic.com · gellerreport.com · keysnews.com · matzav.com · newrepublic.com · offthepress.com · thecapitolist.com · truthout.org

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history