A seismic shift is underway in the landscape of national security, ignited by bold actions in Texas and Florida. These states have taken the unprecedented step of officially designating the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as terrorist organizations, a move fraught with legal challenges and profound implications.
The actions began on November 18, 2025, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation labeling both groups as foreign terrorist entities. Abbott explicitly linked CAIR to the Muslim Brotherhood, characterizing it as a direct successor. Just days later, on December 9th, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis followed suit, signing a similar order and openly inviting legal battles to expose alleged connections to Hamas.
The response was swift and predictable. CAIR chapters in both states immediately filed lawsuits, alleging violations of constitutional rights – freedom of speech, due process, and equal protection under the law. These legal challenges are poised to become landmark cases, testing the boundaries of state power in the realm of national security and counterterrorism.
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is a Sunni Islamist organization with a long and complex history. Its core aim has always been the implementation of Sharia law through political and social means. Notably, its Palestinian branch, Hamas, has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States since 1997.
This isn’t an isolated American stance. Several nations – Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Austria – have already designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Jordan recently criminalized both membership and the promotion of its ideology. While other European nations have expressed concerns about extremism, they have stopped short of outright bans.
Adding further weight to the situation, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on November 24, 2025, specifically designating chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This order initiates a federal review process that could lead to broader designations and potentially nationwide bans.
The core of the controversy lies in allegations of covert networks operating within the United States. While no official branch of the Muslim Brotherhood exists domestically, investigations dating back to the 2007-2008 Holy Land Foundation (HLF) trial in Dallas revealed a web of interconnected organizations allegedly established as early as the 1960s.
A chilling 1991 Muslim Brotherhood memorandum outlined a “Civilization-Jihadist Process” – a long-term strategy to undermine Western society and establish Islamic governance. This document identified 29 affiliated groups, including prominent organizations like the Muslim Students Association (MSA), the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
The HLF trial exposed a direct link to Hamas, revealing that the organization funneled $12.4 million to the terrorist group. Key figures, including Ghassan Elashi – a founder of CAIR-Texas – received lengthy prison sentences, some exceeding 65 years.
CAIR, founded in 1994 by individuals with ties to the Islamic Association for Palestine, has grown to become a prominent voice for Muslim Americans. Operating in major cities across Texas and Florida for decades, the organization focuses on advocacy and promoting a positive image of Islam.
However, CAIR’s history is shadowed by the HLF trial, where it was named an unindicted co-conspirator. Evidence presented suggested links between its founders and the Hamas support networks uncovered during the investigation. Despite this, successive administrations – both Republican and Democrat – declined to pursue further prosecutions against CAIR leaders.
The United Arab Emirates designated CAIR as a terrorist organization in 2014, a move that has fueled ongoing debate and scrutiny. Meanwhile, within the U.S. political arena, Senator Ted Cruz has repeatedly introduced legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
Recent legislative efforts, spearheaded by Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart and Jared Moskowitz, have specifically targeted CAIR with proposed legislation. Texas Republicans have also passed resolutions condemning the organization, and Governor DeSantis has restricted its access to state resources.
The implications of these state designations are far-reaching. Treating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as criminal entities allows for asset freezes and more aggressive prosecutions. In Florida, this means the potential for subpoenas targeting CAIR’s financial records, internal documents, and funding sources.
The ensuing legal battles will undoubtedly test the limits of state authority over federal terrorism policy, potentially establishing precedents that could reshape national security protocols. With other Republican-led states – including Alabama, Georgia, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Kentucky – considering similar designations, the momentum appears to be building for a nationwide reckoning.
As federal reviews of Muslim Brotherhood chapters progress under the recent Executive Order, the actions taken by Texas and Florida represent a critical turning point. The coming months and years will determine whether these initial steps will accelerate a broader, nationwide effort to address perceived Islamic networks through both state and federal mechanisms.
