The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Florida chapter have suspended operations in the state after a federal judge rejected an emergency request to block Florida's designation of the groups as domestic terrorist organizations. The ruling, issued Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor in the Northern District of Florida, allows the designation to take effect while a lawsuit challenging the law proceeds. The judge did issue a narrow form of preliminary relief, barring Florida prosecutors from enforcing the law against CAIR, CAIR Florida, their employees or third parties with respect to the provision of legal services to the groups.
CAIR announced the suspension Thursday as the designation took effect. The group said it was forced to close its doors to protect its staff and supporters.
The designation stems from legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that gives the governor and other state officials the authority to identify organizations as domestic terrorist groups and restrict their access to public funding and government contracts. The law also bars public schools or districts from spending state or federal funds or maintaining on-campus programs that promote designated groups, and requires colleges and universities to report information about students on visas who promote such groups. Students found to have promoted a group can be expelled.
Florida officials have argued that CAIR operates as a front for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, allegations CAIR's attorneys vehemently deny. Hiba Rahim, executive director of CAIR-Florida, said in a statement that the group "categorically rejects Florida officials' baseless designation of us," but added that it was "heartbroken that we have no choice but to close our doors to protect our staff and people of all faiths who support our work."
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which represent CAIR in the lawsuit, are involved in the case. Ashley Gorski, senior counsel with the ACLU's National Security Project, said the ACLU would appeal the ruling. She called it "deeply disappointing" and said it "upholds state officials' sweeping power to punish American organizations they brand as 'terrorist,' without due process and in violation of the First Amendment."
Gov. DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier hailed the decision. "Great win by our Solicitor General's office and for the people of Florida!" Uthmeier wrote on X.
The lawsuit, filed in July, challenges the constitutionality of the law on due process and First Amendment grounds. The judge found that CAIR and CAIR Florida were unlikely to succeed on those claims at this stage. DeSantis issued an executive order in December designating CAIR and CAIR-Florida as terrorist organizations; a federal judge blocked it in March after the groups sued.
CAIR and CAIR-Florida said the impact on the communities they serve will be "immense." They provide pro bono legal services to Florida residents, including people who suffer government and workplace discrimination in violation of their civil rights, as well as people navigating the immigration system.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The designation effectively bans a Muslim civil rights organization from operating in Florida, raising concerns about due process and First Amendment rights.
- The law sets a precedent for states to designate groups as terrorist organizations without criminal charges, potentially affecting other advocacy groups.
- Florida's Muslim community loses access to legal services and civil rights advocacy from CAIR.
Background
In September, the Florida Cabinet voted to designate CAIR and CAIR Florida as domestic terrorist organizations under a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year. The law grants state officials the power to label groups as terrorist and restrict their access to public funds and contracts. CAIR sued in July to block the law. An earlier executive order by DeSantis in December 2025 was blocked by a federal judge in March.
Key Perspectives
CAIR-Florida: Rejects the designation as baseless but has closed its operations to protect staff and supporters.
ACLU: Calls the ruling deeply disappointing and will appeal, arguing the law violates due process and the First Amendment.
Florida officials: Hail the ruling, with Attorney General Uthmeier calling it a 'great win'.
What to Watch
- The ACLU's appeal in the 11th Circuit and whether it can secure an injunction while the lawsuit continues.
- Whether other states introduce similar legislation targeting advocacy groups.
- The impact on CAIR's national operations and the broader Muslim civil rights landscape.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedRahim said CAIR-Florida “categorically rejects Florida officials' baseless designation of us” and was “heartbroken that we have no choice” but to close its doors.Florida Phoenix: ““CAIR-Florida categorically rejects Florida officials’ baseless designation of us,” said Hiba Rahim, executive director of CAIR-Florida, in a written statement. “Nevertheless, we are heartbroken that we have no choice but to close our doors”
- SupportedAshley Gorski called the ruling “deeply disappointing,” said the ACLU was appealing, and said the decision upholds state officials’ power to punish organizations they brand as terrorists.Florida Phoenix: ““Today’s ruling is deeply disappointing and we are appealing it,” said Ashley Gorski, senior counsel with the ACLU’s National Security Project. “Today’s decision upholds state officials’ sweeping power to punish American organizations they brand as ‘terrorist,’ without due process and in violation of the First Amendment.””
- SupportedUthmeier wrote, “Great win by our Solicitor General’s office and for the people of Florida!”Florida Phoenix: ““Great win by our Solicitor General’s office and for the people of Florida!” Uthmeier wrote on X.”
- SupportedJudge Winsor rejected CAIR’s emergency request to block the designation, allowing it to take effect while the legal challenge continues.Florida Phoenix: “It did so after a federal judge rejected an emergency request Wednesday by the Muslim civil rights organization to stop the state from designating the group and its state chapter as domestic terrorist organizations, allowing the designation to take effect while its legal challenge, litigated by the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center, continues.”
- SupportedThe judge barred Florida prosecutors from enforcing the law against CAIR, CAIR Florida, their employees or third parties with respect to providing legal services to the groups.Florida Phoenix: “The judge did issue a narrow form of preliminary relief, stating that Florida prosecutors cannot enforce the law against CAIR and CAIR Florida, their employees, or third parties with respect to provision of legal services to the groups.”
- SupportedCAIR and its Florida chapter suspended operations in Florida after the ruling.Florida Phoenix: “The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has suspended operations in Florida, the organization has announced. It did so after a federal judge rejected an emergency request Wednesday”
- SupportedThe ruling was issued Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor, who found the groups unlikely to succeed at this stage on their due-process and First Amendment claims.Florida Phoenix: “In a ruling released Wednesday night, Windsor said the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed at this stage on their claims that the designations under a new law ( HB 1471 ) violates their due process and First Amendment rights.”
- SupportedThe designation took effect Thursday.Florida Phoenix: “That designation took effect Thursday.”
- Not in the sourcesCAIR announced its suspension on Thursday.Florida Phoenix: “That designation took effect Thursday. As a result, both groups say they have been forced to shut down their advocacy and operations in Florida.”
- SupportedFlorida officials contend that CAIR operates as a front for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, and CAIR’s attorneys deny the allegation.Florida Phoenix: “They contend the group operates as a front for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Attorneys for CAIR have vehemently denied the allegation”
- SupportedThe law bars public schools and school districts from spending state or federal funds on, or maintaining on-campus programs that promote, designated groups.Florida Phoenix: “It bans public schools or school districts from spending state or federal funds or maintaining programs on campus that “promote” a designated group.”
- SupportedThe legislation signed by DeSantis gives Florida officials authority to designate domestic terrorist groups and restrict their access to public funding and government contracts.Washington Examiner: “The designation stems from legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) that gives Florida officials the authority to identify organizations as domestic terrorist groups and restrict their access to public funding, government contracts, and other state benefits.”