Overview
- Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation labeling the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations under Texas law.
- The action prohibits the groups and their affiliates from purchasing or acquiring real property in Texas and authorizes Attorney General Ken Paxton to sue to shut down their activities.
- Abbott’s office said the designation enables heightened state enforcement, though it does not trigger federal immigration actions, asset freezes, or material‑support crimes.
- CAIR condemned the move as defamatory and unlawful, said it consistently denounces terrorism, and indicated it is prepared to pursue legal action to block the policy.
- The proclamation cites the Holy Land Foundation case, FBI characterizations of CAIR’s ties to a Hamas support network, statements by Brotherhood leaders, and foreign government restrictions, and it follows months of state scrutiny of the EPIC/Epic City development in North Texas.