CAIR Sues DeSantis Over Florida Terrorist Designation Order

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Tallahassee, Florida — A prominent Muslim civil rights organization has filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis, challenging an executive order that labeled it a “foreign terrorist organization,” a move the group argues violates the U.S. Constitution and exceeds state authority.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with its Florida affiliate, filed suit late Monday in federal court seeking to block enforcement of the order and have it declared unlawful. CAIR argues that only the federal government has the authority to designate foreign terrorist organizations and that DeSantis’s directive unlawfully usurps that power.

The order, issued last week, also applies the same designation to the Muslim Brotherhood and instructs Florida agencies to bar the named groups—and anyone providing them material support—from receiving state contracts, employment, or funding. CAIR says the action directly threatens its ability to operate, despite its long-standing role in legal advocacy, education, and civil rights outreach across more than 20 U.S. chapters.

In its complaint, CAIR alleges it was targeted for defending free speech and Palestinian human rights in cases where state officials attempted to penalize individuals for their political views. The organization notes that Florida is home to an estimated 500,000 Muslim residents who could be affected by the chilling impact of the order.

DeSantis’s office declined to respond directly to the lawsuit, instead pointing to social media posts in which the governor said he welcomed the legal fight and suggested scrutiny of CAIR’s finances. The move mirrors similar actions by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, which CAIR is also challenging in federal court.

The lawsuit adds to growing legal scrutiny over state-level efforts to apply terrorism designations outside established federal processes, raising broader questions about civil liberties, religious freedom, and executive power.