Federal Judge Blocks Florida Governor's Terrorist Designation of Muslim Groups

Ruling finds DeSantis' executive order unconstitutional and a violation of First Amendment rights

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of a Florida executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis that designated two Muslim civil rights groups as foreign terrorist organizations. The judge ruled the order is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment.

Why it matters

The ruling is a significant victory for Muslim advocacy groups like CAIR, who argued the governor overstepped his authority and targeted them for their defense of Palestinian human rights. It also highlights ongoing concerns over Islamophobia and the use of anti-terror laws to suppress minority groups.

The details

U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker issued a preliminary injunction halting the enforcement of DeSantis' order, which targeted the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood. The judge wrote that the governor cannot "unilaterally designate one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in America as a 'terrorist organization'" without violating the Constitution. CAIR and other civil rights groups sued DeSantis in December, shortly after he issued the executive order.

  • The executive order was issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2025.
  • The federal judge's preliminary injunction blocking the order was issued on March 5, 2026.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The Republican governor of Florida who issued the executive order designating two Muslim groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

Mark E. Walker

The U.S. District Judge who issued the preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of DeSantis' executive order.

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

A prominent Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization that sued DeSantis over his executive order.

Muslim Brotherhood

A pan-Arab Islamist political movement that was also designated as a foreign terrorist organization in DeSantis' executive order.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The question before this Court is whether the Governor can, in a non-emergency situation, unilaterally designate one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in America as a 'terrorist organization' and withhold government benefits from anyone providing material support or resources to the group.”

— Judge Mark E. Walker, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

The preliminary injunction will remain in place as the lawsuit challenging DeSantis' executive order moves forward in the courts.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant rebuke of the Florida governor's attempt to use executive power to target Muslim civil rights groups, underscoring the importance of judicial oversight in protecting constitutional freedoms even in the face of political pressure and Islamophobia.