The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Akeel & Valentine, PLC, and Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Florida officials' imminent designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and CAIR-Florida as "domestic terrorist organizations." This legal action comes hours after Governor Ron DeSantis announced his intent to use new state laws against CAIR, a leading civil rights organization.
The lawsuit targets HB 1471 and HB 1473, laws signed by Gov. DeSantis in April 2026 despite public outcry. These laws establish a state designation regime, expanding Florida's authority to label and punish groups, including nonprofits engaged in First Amendment-protected advocacy. Such a designation would inflict immediate and irreparable harm, potentially forcing the organizations to cease all operations and advocacy within the state.
CAIR's national headquarters said, "We thank the ACLU, SPLC, Akeel & Valentine, and Bondurant for standing up against Gov. DeSantis’ latest attack on the rule of law." They added that CAIR has historically worked to protect constitutional guarantees. Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project, emphasized that "the Constitution does not allow elected officials to punish American nonprofits and deny them the fundamentals of due process because of disagreement with their views."
The lawsuit explains that CAIR and CAIR-Florida are nonprofits dedicated to enhancing public understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims, and do not engage in "terrorist activity." CAIR-Florida stated, "Our work is critical to combatting prejudice, false stereotypes, and ensuring the promises of the Constitution cover us all — yet the governor has unfairly labeled us something we are not."
If the designation takes effect, it would instantly incapacitate CAIR and CAIR-Florida's work, leading to criminal prohibitions that would halt basic functions, shutter offices, and brand them with a "stigmatizing, infamous label." Daniel Tilley, legal director of the ACLU of Florida, warned that allowing this "undisguised attempt to restrict constitutionally protected speech and association" would expand censorship. The groups are suing under the First Amendment and the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Scott McCoy, deputy legal director at SPLC, asserted that Gov. DeSantis lacks the power to unilaterally brand an organization without due process or judicial review.
This current lawsuit follows a separate legal challenge where a U.S. District Court in early March 2026 granted a preliminary injunction blocking a related executive order by Gov. DeSantis that also unilaterally branded CAIR a "terrorist organization."