CAIR v. DeSantis

On December 15, 2025, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and CAIR Florida filed a federal complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida challenging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s Executive Order 25-244. The complaint alleged that the order violated the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment by designating CAIR and CAIR Florida as foreign terrorist organizations without notice, hearing, evidentiary record, or judicial determination. It further alleged that the order directed state and local agencies to deny contracts, funding, employment, benefits, and other government-related privileges to the organizations and to individuals or entities alleged to provide material support, including non financial assistance, and authorized enforcement actions by state law enforcement agencies. The plaintiffs asserted that the order imposed immediate legal consequences and stigma based solely on executive action.

Earlier, on December 8, 2025, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 25-244, designating CAIR and CAIR Florida as foreign terrorist organizations and directing state agencies, counties, and municipalities to implement the designation. The order required denial of state contracts, funding, employment, and other governmental benefits and extended restrictions to entities and individuals deemed to provide support. It also referenced alleged associations with foreign organizations and established enforcement directives across state and local government.

In January 2026, state policy discussions and proposals addressed expanding the framework beyond the executive order itself, including restrictions on gifts and donations to designated organizations and measures affecting public universities. In that context, the plaintiffs argued that the designation created uncertainty for speech and association on campuses, including student-led advocacy and organizations engaged in Middle East related political activity. CAIR’s broader advocacy relationships and engagement with student and campus networks were cited as part of the asserted chilling effects, though no specific campus affiliate organizations were separately designated in the order.

On March 4, 2026, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Executive Order 25-244. The court concluded that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their constitutional claims, including due process and First Amendment violations. The injunction prohibited enforcement of the designation and associated penalties, including restrictions on funding, contracts, and other state benefits, while litigation proceeded.

Following the injunction, March 2026 proceedings addressed implementation and scope issues related to the court’s order. The injunction remained in place, preventing enforcement of the designation regime against CAIR and CAIR Florida.

On April 6, 2026, Florida enacted HB 1471, a statute establishing a formal state process for designating domestic and foreign terrorist organizations. The law created a mechanism for state-level designations by a designated official with approval from the governor and Florida Cabinet and authorized consequences including loss of state funding, contracts, grants, and other public benefits, as well as restrictions tied to providing support. The statute codified and formalized an enforcement framework similar to that previously implemented through executive action. CAIR and CAIR Florida stated that the legislation preserved and extended the challenged framework already enjoined by the federal court. The litigation remained ongoing following both the preliminary injunction and enactment of HB 1471.