Abbott Designates CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Groups, Bars Land Purchases

Governor Greg Abbott on November 18 issued a statewide proclamation declaring the Council on American Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood to be foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations, and ordered that they be prohibited from purchasing or acquiring real property in Texas. Abbott cited a state law he signed earlier this year intended to block what the law calls foreign adversaries from buying land, and the proclamation authorizes state enforcement actions while referring potential affiliate entities for legal scrutiny.

State officials framed the measure as an assertion of Texas sovereignty over land transactions, but the action immediately provoked legal and civil liberties debate. Federal authorities have not designated either CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, and CAIR rejected the designation as baseless and unlawful. Legal experts noted that states do not have the federal authority to make formal foreign terrorist designations that carry federal immigration or criminal consequences, and observers expect litigation to test the reach of the proclamation.

Civil rights organizations warned that the proclamation risks stoking anti Muslim sentiment across the state. Civil society groups and community leaders said the order could produce real world harms for Muslim Texans beyond the question of property rights, including increased surveillance, harassment, and pressure on faith based and community organizations that provide health and social services.

Public health professionals and health equity advocates raised concerns about the broader implications for community trust and access to care. In communities where residents already face discrimination, a political designation framed as a threat could discourage people from seeking preventive care, mental health support, or participating in public health outreach. Programs that rely on community based partners to deliver vaccinations, maternal health services, or disease screening could encounter heightened reluctance from clients worried about stigma or government scrutiny.

Nonprofit service providers serving Muslim communities said they also face a precarious position. If organizations are subject to legal examination or funding restrictions, the disruption could reduce capacity to deliver essential services to low income and immigrant residents who already contend with barriers to health care access. Housing advocates warned that barring property transactions tied to organizations or alleged affiliates could result in housing instability for tenants and strain local shelter and rental markets.

Policy analysts described the move as part of a broader trend toward state level measures that intersect with national security language while raising constitutional and administrative law issues. Questions about due process, freedom of association, and the separation of state and federal authority are likely to drive court challenges. For many Muslim Texans the immediate fallout will be less about abstract legal doctrine and more about the practical fear of being singled out when accessing medical care, education, and the other services that sustain daily life.

As legal disputes unfold, public health officials and community leaders called for careful monitoring of hate incidents, support for organizations providing health and social services, and policies that protect civil rights while addressing legitimate security concerns. The intersection of law, health, and social equity in this proclamation highlights how security measures at the state level can ripple through communities, affecting trust in government and the ability to secure basic needs.