Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican and ally of President Donald Trump who is seeking a fourth term, is defending a recent move to classify the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations” and “transnational criminal organizations” under Texas law.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Abbott said the designation is intended to restrict the groups and their affiliates from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas. He also said the proclamation authorizes state agencies to increase enforcement efforts and pursue legal action related to the two organizations.
The move has already sparked legal pushback. Two Texas chapters of CAIR filed a federal lawsuit against Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, arguing the proclamation violates the U.S. Constitution by exceeding state authority and infringing due process rights.
Abbott said the goal is to establish consequences for conduct he described as threatening religious freedom or supporting terrorism. “Any organization that supports terrorism, that harbors people who have provided material support for terrorism, is not allowed to exist in our state,” he said, adding that such groups “will [be] purge[d]” from Texas and, in his view, should not receive tax-exempt status.
Following Abbott’s proclamation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that similarly designates CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. The order bars the groups from receiving state contracts, funding, employment, or benefits and prohibits state agencies from working with them or entities deemed to support them.
The article also notes that Trump signed an executive order initiating the federal process for several Muslim Brotherhood chapters to be designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
On Dec. 2, Abbott sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting the suspension of CAIR’s tax-exempt status.
Abbott said he believes both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have a “long, well-established history with terrorism,” and he pointed to reports involving CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad and the Dallas–Fort Worth CAIR chapter’s advocacy related to Marwan Marouf, a Jordanian national set to be deported by ICE after allegedly donating to a charity accused of funneling money to Hamas.
“There’s a massive difference between religion and terrorism,” Abbott said. “It doesn’t matter what religious belief you may believe in or adhere to, if you support terrorism in any way, that is a crime… I don’t care who you are or what religion you’re a part of.”
CAIR sharply disputed Abbott’s characterization. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the group’s deputy director, said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital that Abbott is “an Israel First politician” and accused him of trying to “smear and silence” Texans who oppose U.S. funding tied to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Mitchell described CAIR as “an independent American civil rights organization” that has spent decades opposing “all forms of unjust violence,” including terrorism and war crimes. He added that CAIR has condemned Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, including suicide bombings in the 1990s and the Oct. 7 attack, while also condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Mitchell said the group plans to continue its legal challenge to Abbott’s proclamation.
The Muslim Brotherhood did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by the time of publication.
Asked what comes next, Abbott suggested further steps could be tied to Texas’ border enforcement strategy. He argued that, regardless of who holds the presidency in the years ahead, Texas should plan for long-term border security efforts. Abbott also cited examples of violent crimes he attributed to people who, he said, were in the U.S. unlawfully or inadequately vetted, arguing that the state and federal government should apply stricter scrutiny to who enters the country.
“Americans deserve that brand of safety,” he said.
