Florida officials are pausing a plan to label the country’s largest Muslim advocacy and civil rights group a domestic terrorist organization, a move which delays a process fiercely criticized for potentially jeopardizing free speech rights.
This wasn’t officially announced by the governor’s office, but court records show that attorneys representing the state said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is holding off on issuing designations until official regulations are finalized for the new Florida law (HB 1471), which took effect July 1.
The state law enforcement department did not return a request for comment.
That means Florida’s move to add the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) onto the state’s domestic terror list is forthcoming, but delayed until further notice. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his plan to officially designate the group in a July 1 press conference, which would restrict state agencies from entering contracts or providing funds to the organization.
“The fact that Florida officials announced their intent to designate CAIR at their July 1 press conference, before regulations they now plan to issue have come into effect, shows their calculated and cruel plan to designate CAIR is not because it is in any way a threat to public safety, but because doing so suits their political agenda,” said Scott McCoy, the deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, in a statement.
Hours after the governor’s announcement, CAIR filed a lawsuit in Tallahassee federal court, saying the DeSantis administration violated their First Amendment rights to speech, association and petition. Additionally, they contend the state’s law doesn’t outline a pathway to appeal a terror label or to review evidence gathered by the state.
The governor nevertheless has demonstrated the designation of terror groups to be a high priority, since it was among the first announcements made on the first day of Florida’s 2026-2027 fiscal year, when hundreds of laws took effect.
It’s also expected to be one of the final agenda items of the DeSantis administration, since DeSantis is term-limited in November. Records obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida show that DeSantis’ office drafted early versions of the bill.
Over multiple months, this law has been staunchly criticized by students and free speech advocates, who say it could jeopardize student expression on college and university campuses. The reason: It’s not fully clear how the law could be implemented.
Critics say the bill has as vague definition of “promotes,” which could leave room for any student with a disagreeing viewpoint to be pinned as promoting a “domestic terrorist” group. In addition to designating CAIR as a domestic terror organization, DeSantis also said he planned to add antifa to the list, which is an anti-fascist and antiracist movement.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA TODAY Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis’ domestic terror designation to Muslim rights group on pause
Reporting by Stephany Matat, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Stephany Matat, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
