Texas governor Abbott designates Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas-linked CAIR ‘foreign terrorist organizations’

This is good to see and long overdue, but we shall soon see if it actually has any teeth. We’ve been sounding the alarm about the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), while it has only grown in wealth, power, and influence. Will it now be able to use that wealth, power, and influence to render this designation utterly devoid of meaning? Don’t be surprised if it does.

“Texas governor Abbott designates Cair and Muslim Brotherhood terrorist groups,” by Joseph Gedeon, Guardian, November 18, 2025:

Texas governor Greg Abbott declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) and the Muslim Brotherhood to be “foreign terrorist organizations” on Tuesday, prohibiting them from acquiring property in the state and authorizing legal action to shut down affiliated entities.

The move marks a massive escalation in Abbott’s confrontation with Muslim organizations and communities in Texas, though states have no authority to designate foreign terrorist organizations on behalf of the US.

“The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and Cair to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation and harassment are unacceptable,” Abbott said in a statement. “These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.”

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, only the US secretary of state can officially designate foreign terrorist organizations, following consultation with the attorney general and treasury secretary. The process requires congressional notification and publication in the Federal Register.

The impact of the action by Abbott, who this month announced that he is intending to run again for the governor’s seat next November, is limited to Texas state law enforcement and authorizes the state attorney general to sue organizations deemed affiliated with Cair or the Muslim Brotherhood, though Abbott’s office has not specified how it will determine affiliation or what enforcement actions it plans to take.

The designation carries no federal immigration consequences, asset freezing powers or criminal penalties under federal material support statutes that accompany legitimate federal terrorist designations….

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