Packing their bags: CAIR’s Florida chapter suspends operations as it’s designated a terrorist organization

CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, describes itself as a civil rights and advocacy organization active in support of Islam and Muslims.

It claims to call for civil rights, freedom of religion, free enterprise, freedom of expression, human rights and more.

It also was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror funding trial.

And while it endorses Muslim political candidates, promotes Islam in all its work, and regularly lashes out at critics for being “Islamophobic,” it also has been designated as a terror organization by several nations and states.

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One of those is Florida.

And now a report posted online at the Washington Examiner confirms the group has suspended its operations in that state.

That’s because a federal court is allowing a state law, designating CAIR as a “domestic terrorist group,” to take effect.

“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. The law also establishes criminal penalties for providing certain forms of material support to designated organizations,” the report explained.

This morning, a federal court upheld Florida’s Domestic Terrorist Organization law and rejected CAIR’s attempt to stop the designations.

Great win by our Solicitor General's office and for the people of Florida!

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) November 5, 2026

🚨 BREAKING: CAIR just SUSPENDED all Florida operations after DeSantis hit them with a terrorist designation.

Their Tampa office has officially shut down. Florida is showing the rest of the nation how to lead.

Massive win. Good riddance! 👋 pic.twitter.com/y5Tv06eAOY

— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) November 5, 2026

🚨 BLOCKBUSTER DEVELOPMENT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has officially SUSPENDED all operations across Florida after Governor Ron DeSantis designated them and other groups (including the Muslim Brotherhood and Antifa) as foreign/domestic terror organizations… pic.twitter.com/3WKau32h0N

— CONSTITUTION X 🇺🇸 (@ConstitustionX) November 5, 2026

The challenge to the law, by CAIR, still continues in court on claims the designation violates free speech and due process rights.

But U.S. District Court Judge Allen Winsor said while such designations usually are at the federal level, “the Constitution does not prohibit legislation simply because it is novel.”

CAIR-Florida operations officials confirmed the closure in a notice on their office doors.

It claimed the closure was because of the “baseless and unconstitutional enforcement" of the law.

An appeal was being pursued by CAIR.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said it was a victory for the state.

“This morning, a federal court upheld Florida's Domestic Terrorist Organization law and rejected CAIR's attempt to stop the designations," Uthmeier wrote on X.

Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.