Governor Greg Abbott issued an official statement on Tuesday designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), one of the largest Muslim civil rights organizations in the country, as a foreign terrorist organization, making Texas the first state to take this step.
The statement also includes the "Muslim Brotherhood," a transnational Islamist movement founded in Egypt with a history of radicalization in splinter factions.
Abbott announced that he will order the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, to file lawsuits to "shut down" CAIR's operations in Texas, arguing that the organization has ties to Hamas and represents a threat to security and public order.
Abbott encomendó a Paxton cerrar las operaciones de CAIR en Texas
The governor stated that both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have expressed ideological objectives that seek to impose "sharia" by force and establish global Islamic domination. "These radical extremists are not welcome in our state," he declared, also noting that they will be barred from acquiring property in Texas.
The decision is part of the firm stance Abbott has adopted regarding organizations and movements that support agendas that endanger national security and promote radical rhetoric.
From his perspective, the measure responds to the need to protect Texas from any group that could serve as a platform for ideological, financial, or logistical support to terrorist organizations.
Abbott has repeatedly criticized CAIR's position, especially for its opposition to Israeli intervention in Gaza and its support for pro-Palestinian protests in the United States.
La Hermandad Musulmana tiene fuertes vínculos con Hamás
CAIR immediately rejected the statement, calling it "slanderous and illegal." The Texas chapter of the organization denounced that Abbott is "attacking Muslim leaders and communities for political reasons" and accused the governor of promoting a smear campaign motivated by his alignment with pro-Israel groups.
The entity insists, albeit dubiously, that it has no connection whatsoever with Hamas or terrorist cells and that it has acted for decades as a civil rights organization in U.S. territory.
Nevertheless, for Texas citizens, the measure responds to growing concerns about organizations that promote radicalized rhetoric and have ideological connections with foreign movements involved in violence. From that perspective, the designation seeks to send a clear message about the legal and security boundaries Texas is willing to defend.
Abbott also warned that his concern extends beyond civil organizations and even reaches the political sphere. During a radio interview, he expressed concern about the rise of elected Muslim officials in the United States, citing as an example the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York, which he described as an event that could generate "catastrophic problems." "We want to make sure that will never happen here," the governor stated.
Abbott criticó fuertemente la elección de Mamdani en Nueva York
