On November 18, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) issued a formal proclamation designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) under Texas state law. This unprecedented state-level action prohibits both entities and their affiliates from purchasing or acquiring any real property interest in Texas and empowers Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to pursue civil lawsuits to dissolve or shut down their operations within the state.

The designation was announced via Abbott’s official X (formerly Twitter) account at approximately 9:12 a.m. CT, accompanied by a press release from the Office of the Governor and a filed proclamation with the Texas Secretary of State.

Exact Quote from Governor Abbott’s Announcement:

“The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world.’ 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. Today, I designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.”

Abbott’s post on X included images of the signed proclamation.

 

 

 

Legal Basis and Immediate Effects

The designation invokes powers granted by Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), passed during the 2025 Texas legislative session. SB 17 expanded restrictions on land ownership by entities linked to “foreign adversaries” or designated transnational criminal organizations, building on earlier laws limiting purchases by citizens of countries like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Key consequences:

  • Land ownership ban — Both organizations (and affiliates) are barred from buying, leasing, or otherwise acquiring title to real estate in Texas.
  • Enforcement authority — The Texas Attorney General can file suits to enforce dissolution, asset forfeiture, or operational shutdowns.
  • Heightened scrutiny — State agencies gain broader tools for investigations into related activities.

This is the first time any U.S. state has applied such designations to CAIR, a prominent U.S.-based Muslim advocacy group, or the broader Muslim Brotherhood at the state level.

Background on the Organizations

  • Muslim Brotherhood → Founded in Egypt in 1928 as a Sunni Islamist movement. It operates globally through affiliated political parties, charities, and networks. Branches like Hamas (its Palestinian offshoot) are federally designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S., but the parent group is not. Several countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Russia) have banned it outright as a terrorist entity. Federal efforts to designate it (e.g., bills introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz in 2025) have not succeeded.
  • Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) → A Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1994, describing itself as America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. It has chapters in Texas and nationwide.

Critics, including Abbott, link CAIR to the Muslim Brotherhood through:

  • Its listing as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007-2008 Holy Land Foundation trial (the largest U.S. terrorism-financing case), where the foundation was convicted of funneling money to Hamas.
  • Founding members’ ties to Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated groups.
  • UAE’s 2014 designation of CAIR as a terrorist organization.

CAIR was never charged or convicted in the Holy Land case and has repeatedly denied being a Muslim Brotherhood front, condemning terrorism (including by Hamas and ISIS) and positioning itself as a civil rights defender similar to the NAACP or ADL.

CAIR’s Response

CAIR issued a scathing statement calling the move a “publicity stunt masquerading as a proclamation” with “no basis in fact or law.” National Executive Director Nihad Awad accused Abbott of “advancing anti-Muslim bigotry” and stoking hysteria tied to pro-Israel political pressures. CAIR highlighted its independence, repeated condemnations of terrorism, and prior successful lawsuits against Abbott (three times for alleged First Amendment violations related to anti-BDS laws and campus protests). The group vowed to sue if the designation is enforced against its operations.

 

 

Broader Context

The designation arrives amid Abbott’s aggressive 2025 campaign against perceived Islamist influence in Texas, including:

  • Multi-agency investigations into the proposed EPIC City development (a Muslim-focused community near Dallas linked to the East Plano Islamic Center), accused of planning a “Sharia compound.”
  • New laws (e.g., House Bill 4211) banning discriminatory or Sharia-based residential developments.
  • Ongoing probes by the Texas Rangers, Workforce Commission, Securities Board, and others into EPIC-related entities for fraud, discrimination, and securities violations.

Supporters (conservative outlets, pro-Israel groups) hail it as a bold national-security measure. Critics (civil liberties advocates, some media) warn of religious discrimination, free-speech chills, and potential federal constitutional challenges.

As of November 18 evening, no federal response has been issued, though similar Muslim Brotherhood designation bills remain pending in Congress. Enforcement details are pending guidance from AG Paxton’s office.

This story is developing rapidly, with likely lawsuits and national political fallout in the coming days.

 

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