Florida Designates Over 90 Groups as Terrorist Organizations Under New Law

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that the state intends to designate more than 90 groups as terrorist organizations, utilizing a new state law that took effect the same day. The proposed designations, which include the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa, require final approval from the Florida Cabinet.

This initiative marks the first use of powers established under HB 1471, signed into law earlier this year. The legislation allows the governor and Cabinet to approve or reject designations initially made by the Chief of Domestic Security within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The governor stated that the law provides permanent statutory tools to combat terrorism while defending citizens' constitutional rights.

In addition to CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa, the list of proposed foreign organizations includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and cartels such as Cartel de Sinaloa, Tren de Aragua, Cartel del Noreste, and Cartel del Golfo. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass emphasized the importance of identifying threats for community safety and collaboration.

HB 1471 directs state agencies to deny designated groups public support and taxpayer funding. The law also establishes state enforcement mechanisms and criminal penalties for knowingly providing, attempting to provide, or conspiring to provide material support or resources to a designated domestic terrorist organization. It also ensures that foreign or religious legal codes cannot supersede the U.S. or Florida Constitutions in state courts.

CAIR, a Muslim civil rights organization, condemned the move, stating that it does not engage in terrorist activity and has not been charged or convicted of any crime. The organization, along with CAIR-Florida, has previously sued over a December executive order by DeSantis targeting CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR has vowed to challenge the new designations in court, asserting they are politically motivated and infringe on First Amendment rights.

Civil liberties groups, including the ACLU's National Security Project, echoed these concerns, calling the potential designations "dire and unmoored from reality" and arguing that the speech and advocacy of groups like CAIR are protected by the First Amendment. Critics argue the designations are politically motivated and threaten free speech and association, while DeSantis and state officials maintain the law aims to prevent taxpayer support for groups promoting terrorism.

These state-level designations would operate under Florida law and are distinct from federal foreign terrorist organization designations made by the U.S. State Department.