Federal judge blocks DeSantis executive order declaring CAIR a ‘terrorist organization’

A federal court in Tallahassee has issued a temporary injunction blocking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a “terrorist organization.”

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker’s order comes nearly three months after DeSantis signed his executive order on Dec. 8. The order directed Florida’s executive and Cabinet agencies, as well as every county and city, to deny local or state contracts, employment, funding, benefits, or privileges to CAIR and anyone known to provide “material support” to CAIR, including “expert advice or assistance.”

“The question before this Court is whether the Governor can, in a non-emergency situation, unilaterally designate one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in America as a ‘terrorist organization’ and withhold government benefits from anyone providing material support or resources to the group,” Walker wrote in his order. “This Court finds he cannot.”

CAIR has never been declared a foreign terrorist organization by any federal agency.

The organization filed its lawsuit eight days after DeSantis’ executive order, arguing it violated its First Amendment right to free speech because it discriminated based on viewpoint, was issued in retaliation for protected speech, and coerced third parties to disassociate from CAIR.

In his order, Judge Walker writes that CAIR’s standing was not based on direct censorship of its speech, but rather DeSantis’ “coercion of third parties to cut ties with Plaintiff.” He specifically cited how CAIR had alleged that, after the executive order was issued, a Florida-based production company withdrew from an agreement to produce a podcast that was intended to support its public education and civil rights work.

Judge Walker also noted that the South Florida Muslim Federation publicly “disassociated” CAIR Florida from participating in a conference in late January that was scheduled to be held at the Coral Springs Center. The action came after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier posted on social media that “Coral Springs should remember that state and local resources cannot be used by any organization affiliated with CAIR” and that “[t]he city commission is on notice.”

DeSantis’ executive order listed both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “terrorist organizations.” It came three weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation prohibiting CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood and its members from purchasing or acquiring land in the state, accusing them of supporting terrorism and undermining Texas laws through harassment, intimidation, and violence.

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said, “Amid widespread attempts by politicians to undermine our democracy, including attacks on free speech, religious freedom, immigrant rights, and due process, this federal court ruling serves as a reminder that the Constitution still matters.”

“Today’s ruling is a decisive victory for the Constitution and for the principle that no governor can place themselves above the law,” said Scott McCoy, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which joined CAIR’s lawsuit.

“Governor DeSantis attempted to wield the power of his office to smear a civil rights organization, silence its advocacy and intimidate those who support it. The court rightly rejected that abuse of power. This executive order was never about public safety — it was about targeting a Muslim organization for its speech and its advocacy. The court’s ruling makes clear that the Constitution does not allow elected officials to punish organizations or individuals simply because they disagree with their views.”

The ruling comes as a bill is moving through the Florida Legislature that would allow just a handful of state officials to designate domestic or foreign terrorist organizations.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article appears in Mar. 05 – 11, 2026.