Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a proclamation designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under state law.
This state-level designation accuses these groups of supporting global terrorism and subverting Texas laws through violence and intimidation, drawing on new legislation that expands gubernatorial powers over property transactions for national security reasons. In practice, it bans these organizations and their members from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas, giving the state attorney general authority to pursue civil enforcement and potentially shut down related operations. The move also heightens penalties for any activities conducted by members under Texas law, aiming to prevent perceived extremist networks from establishing a foothold in the state.
However, its limitations are significant: it applies only within Texas borders, lacks federal backing because neither group is on the U.S. State Department’s terrorist list, and faces potential constitutional challenges for violating the First Amendment’s religious discrimination protections and the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause.
The proclamation was issued amid controversy over a proposed Muslim-led residential development called EPIC City in East Plano, Texas, which has been forming as a “Sharia compound.” Conservatives, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz who introduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, and the Texas GOP which passed a supporting resolution, have increasingly called for the federal government to designate these organizations as terrorists to enable nationwide sanctions like asset freezes and bans on material support.
Similar bipartisan efforts in Congress, such as a bill by Representatives Díaz-Balart and Moskowitz, emphasize the need for a modernized federal strategy against the Muslim Brotherhood’s global influence. Despite these calls, the likelihood of federal designation remains low under the Trump administration, given its expanding relationships with Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE through deals like the Abraham Accords and massive investment commitments, which could be strained by such a move. Additionally, targeting a U.S.-based advocacy organization like CAIR could complicate Trump’s diplomatic outreach and promises to Arab leaders on issues like Middle East peace.
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