CAIR Shuts Down Florida Operations After DeSantis Administration’s Terror Designation

MIAMI (VINnews) – The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has suspended its operations indefinitely, citing what it calls unconstitutional enforcement of a new state law and the designation of the Muslim advocacy group as a domestic terrorist organization.

CAIR announced the shutdown Thursday through a notice posted at its longtime office in Temple Terrace, near Tampa. The organization said it was suspending operations because of actions by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials.

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

The move follows a notice issued by Florida officials last month formally designating CAIR a domestic terrorist organization. The designation is part of a broader dispute between the state and the civil rights group that has included multiple federal lawsuits.

Under legislation signed by DeSantis, Florida imposes restrictions affecting organizations designated as terrorist groups, including limits involving donations and student affiliations. CAIR argues that the law threatens its ability to operate and could expose students who associate with the organization to disciplinary action at public colleges and universities.

The suspension was announced one day before the designation was scheduled to take effect, on Nov. 5. CAIR also posted a notice on its website saying it would no longer accept donations from people living in or located in Florida. It advised Florida residents not to join its mailing lists or otherwise engage with the organization.

CAIR and its Florida chapter had asked a federal judge to block enforcement of the designation while their lawsuit proceeds. Their attorneys, including lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the law threatens constitutional protections for free speech and association and could be used against organizations because of their political positions.

At an Oct. 28 hearing, the state’s attorney defended the designation, describing CAIR as a major charitable front for Hamas. CAIR disputes the state’s position and argues that the designation is politically motivated and unconstitutional. The court had not issued a ruling as of Wednesday, according to reporting on the proceedings.

The legislation, House Bill 1471, took effect July 1. It gives Florida officials authority to designate organizations as domestic or foreign terrorist groups and establishes penalties for knowingly providing material support to organizations carrying those designations. It also restricts certain forms of public funding and institutional support.

The current dispute is separate from an earlier executive order issued by DeSantis in December targeting CAIR. In March, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker blocked enforcement of that order, ruling that the governor could not unilaterally impose the designation in a way that infringed on constitutional rights. That case is also being challenged in federal court.

DeSantis has defended the state’s actions as part of an effort to combat organizations he says have ties to extremist groups. His administration has said the new law allows Florida to identify organizations it considers threats to public safety and security.

CAIR’s Florida shutdown marks a major escalation in the legal and political conflict, with the organization saying the state designation has made continuing its work in Florida untenable.