Designate CAIR as a Terrorist Organization Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
- Committees
- Judiciary Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 24, 2025
Bottom line
This bill mandates a formal inter-agency review to assess whether the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) should be designated a foreign terrorist organization, citing a detailed list of alleged historical ties to terrorist groups and recent controversial statements by its officials.
What it actually does
This bill directs the Secretary of State, in collaboration with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, to conduct a formal review of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The purpose of this review is to determine if CAIR meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill also mandates a report to Congress summarizing the findings, including any resulting designation or the reasons for not designating.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that the bill is a necessary measure to formally investigate CAIR's alleged ties to designated terrorist organizations like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, citing numerous historical instances of alleged affiliations and controversial statements by CAIR officials. They contend that a thorough review is crucial for national security and to ensure that organizations operating in the U.S. are not directly or indirectly supporting terrorism, especially in light of recent global events.
Opponents contend
Opponents would likely argue that the bill is politically motivated, an attempt to silence a prominent Muslim civil rights organization, and could lead to the unjust targeting and stigmatization of American Muslim communities. They might contend that the allegations against CAIR are outdated, have been challenged, or are based on guilt by association, and that such a designation would infringe upon civil liberties and freedom of speech, setting a dangerous precedent for government overreach into advocacy groups.
The bill is very short, making it easy to read and understand its core directive within minutes, though the detailed findings section requires careful consideration.
Section 1
Short Title
This section establishes the official short title of the bill as the 'Designate CAIR as a Terrorist Organization Act.' This title provides a concise and clear name for the legislation, making it easier for the public and legislators to refer to and identify the bill's primary objective.
Supporters argue
Supporters would argue that a clear and direct short title helps communicate the bill's purpose to the public and other legislators, ensuring that its intent is immediately understood.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against short titles unless the title itself is deemed misleading or inflammatory, which is not the primary focus of opposition to this bill.
Tradeoffs
None significant for a short title, as its primary function is identification.
Section 2
Congressional Findings Regarding CAIR
This section outlines 18 specific findings by Congress, detailing alleged historical and recent connections between the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and designated foreign terrorist organizations like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. It cites instances such as CAIR being named an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorism financing trial, the FBI's suspension of formal contacts due to alleged ties to Hamas, and controversial statements by CAIR officials, including one appearing to celebrate the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Section 3
Directed Review for Foreign Terrorist Organization Designation
This section mandates that the Secretary of State, in collaboration with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, conduct a formal review of CAIR within 90 days of the Act's enactment. The purpose of this review is to determine if CAIR meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. A report summarizing the findings, including any designation or the reasons for non-designation, must be submitted to Congress.
The bill directs the Secretary of State to conduct a formal review of CAIR to determine if it meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
Section 3(1)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to reference existing law rather than reprinting it in full, which streamlines bill text and ensures consistency with established legal frameworks.
Case for: Referencing existing statutes streamlines legislation and ensures consistency with established legal frameworks for FTO designation, avoiding redundancy and potential conflicts with existing law.
Case against: A casual reader might not be aware of the specific legal criteria for FTO designation, making it harder to fully understand the scope and implications of the mandated review without looking up the referenced statute, potentially obscuring the precise legal thresholds involved.
Estimated impact: The criteria in 8 U.S.C. 1189 define the legal threshold for designating an organization as a foreign terrorist organization, which, if met, carries significant legal and financial consequences for the designated entity.