CAIR Suspends Florida Operations After Court Upholds Terrorist Label

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) suspended all operations in Florida on November 6, 2026, after a federal judge upheld the state's designation of the group as a domestic terrorist organization. The designation, which took effect on November 5, followed a September 29 vote by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet. State officials alleged CAIR has ties to Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor declined to block the designation, ruling that CAIR failed to provide sufficient legal grounds to prove its constitutional rights were violated. However, Winsor granted limited relief by prohibiting the state from prosecuting CAIR, its employees, or its legal counsel under the state's material-support law.

The designation, implemented under House Bill 1471, prohibits the use of public funds, government contracts, and taxpayer grants for the organization. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that public college students supporting CAIR on campus would face expulsion.

Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, CAIR argues the designation violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Hiba Rahim, Executive Director of CAIR-Florida, stated the organization closed its doors to protect staff and supporters, describing the law as having parallels to authoritarian states. CAIR plans to appeal the decision.