Texas Designates CAIR, Muslim Groups as Terrorist Organisations

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued a sweeping and controversial order designating two major Muslim organizations — including the influential Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) — as terrorist and transnational criminal groups. The move instantly ignited nationwide debate, raising urgent questions about civil rights, constitutional authority, and the growing political polarization around the Gaza conflict.

Abbott announced the designation in a post on X, declaring both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood blacklisted under Texas state law. “Today, I designated the Muslim Brotherhood and Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations,” Abbott wrote, framing the action as a step to “protect Texas.”

Under the order, both organizations are now banned from buying or acquiring land in Texas, and the state is authorized to file lawsuits aimed at shutting down their operations.

A Major Break From Federal Authority

The designation immediately raised eyebrows because classifying terrorist organizations in the United States is traditionally the exclusive authority of the federal government, not individual states.

But Abbott has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of state authority in recent years, especially on security and immigration. In September 2024, he designated the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua as an international terrorist organization — a move later echoed by then-President Donald Trump at the federal level in February 2025.

Legal experts warn that Tuesday’s decision marks a dramatic escalation and sets a precedent that could embolden other states to make ideological or political designations without federal involvement.

CAIR Calls Abbott’s Move an Attack on Muslim Rights

CAIR — one of America’s largest and most visible Muslim civil rights organizations — condemned the announcement, saying Abbott has been “stoking anti-Muslim hysteria” for months, particularly targeting Muslims who criticize the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.

The organization, which has 30 offices nationwide and has been active since the mid-1990s, argued that the Texas decision is politically motivated and aims to silence Muslim advocacy groups at a time when tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict remain high.

Texas has one of the fastest-growing Muslim populations in the United States, with more than 313,000 residents identifying as Muslim in 2025. Civil rights groups fear the new designation could fuel discrimination, community harassment, and legal uncertainty for Muslim Texans.

Abbott’s Strong Support for Israel and Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Protests

The Texas governor has been one of the nation’s most vocal state-level supporters of Israel during the Gaza war. Over the past year, Abbott has repeatedly labeled pro-Palestinian student demonstrations as antisemitic and pushed for stricter state oversight of university protests.

In September 2025, he signed a state law prohibiting real-estate developments from becoming “exclusive complexes operating under Sharia law.” That move came as the state attorney general targeted a development project in Plano, alleging religious exclusivity — claims the developers deny.

Growing Political Fault Lines

Abbott’s decision arrives at a moment of intense polarization in the United States. With the Gaza conflict continuing to influence domestic politics, the designation of CAIR — an established civil rights group with millions of supporters — is seen by analysts as one of the most drastic state-level actions taken against a Muslim organization in decades.

Supporters of the Texas governor argue the move strengthens security and curbs extremism. Critics say it represents a dangerous overreach that targets an entire community under the guise of counterterrorism.

A Decision With National Implications

The fallout is expected to reverberate far beyond Texas. Civil liberties advocates predict multiple legal challenges, while political observers say the move could become a flashpoint in the 2025–26 election cycle.

As debates intensify over religious freedom, state power, and America’s role in the Middle East, the Texas designation of CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood is shaping up to be one of the most consequential and divisive domestic security decisions in years.