Overview
- Gov. Greg Abbott’s proclamation bars the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR, as well as affiliates, from acquiring any real property interest in Texas and authorizes the attorney general to seek injunctions to shut them down.
- Abbott said the order follows consultation with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the state’s Homeland Security Council, and he announced the move alongside a promise of heightened enforcement.
- The proclamation cites the Holy Land Foundation case, past FBI characterizations, and restrictions imposed by several foreign governments to justify the labels under Texas law.
- CAIR denounced the action as defamatory and unlawful, said it would consider suing, and noted prior successful lawsuits against Abbott, while reiterating that it condemns terrorism and denies ties to Hamas.
- Legal experts and outlets note that only the U.S. secretary of state can make federal foreign terrorist designations, so the Texas action carries no federal immigration, asset-freeze, or material-support consequences and is expected to face challenges, with the move also tied to recent scrutiny of the EPIC City Muslim development in North Texas.