Dallas – In a November 14 interview with The Washington Post, Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa (D) announced her intention to rescind the Texas executive finding that designated the Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a terror organization. Hinojosa said the reversal would withdraw the specific designation used by Governor Greg Abbott’s 2025 proclamation to support enforcement actions against the group.

What the designation means

Abbott’s November 18, 2025 proclamation labeled both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations under Texas criminal law and as transnational criminal organizations under state property law. The governor cited the 2001 Holy Land Foundation terrorism‑financing case, which resulted in the conviction of founder Ghassan Elashi and a 65‑year prison sentence for providing material support to Hamas.

Federal authorities also named CAIR as an unindicted co‑conspirator in 2007 and, in a 2009 order, found “ample evidence” of CAIR’s associations with the Holy Land Foundation, the Islamic Association for Palestine, and Hamas. Those findings predate the 2001 federal terrorist designation of the Holy Land Foundation.

Limits of a state rescission

Texas law allows the governor to remove an entity’s land‑purchase designation, but the change applies only to acquisitions occurring after the effective date. It does not automatically overturn earlier transactions, nor does it repeal the underlying criminal or civil statutes that enable other restrictions.

The statute also contains exemptions for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and entities they own or control. It does not impose a blanket ban on Muslims or anyone who supports CAIR.

Legal challenges and ongoing investigations

Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed a February 5, 2026 lawsuit in Collin County seeking to stop the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and its Texas chapters from operating in the state. The suit seeks declarations and injunctions under state law, separate from Abbott’s proclamation.

CAIR’s Dallas‑Fort Worth and Austin chapters filed a federal challenge on November 20, 2025, contesting the legality of the governor’s designation. Those filings pursued different relief than the state’s lawsuit.

Federal actions by the Trump administration

On January 13, 2026, the Trump administration designated Egyptian and Jordanian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as Specially Designated Global Terrorists for providing material support to Hamas. The State Department also designated the Lebanese branch as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Those sanctions block assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. persons from transacting with the designated entities. The federal designations do not include CAIR.

Massad Boulos, the administration’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, praised Egypt’s decision to make the Brotherhood’s terrorist listing permanent, noting the United States “commends Egypt for permanently designating the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist entity.”

Political context

CAIR Action, a 501(c)(4) advocacy group, rated Hinojosa and Attorney General‑elect Nathan Johnson (D) as “Preferred” in its election guide, a category distinct from a full endorsement. The group clarified that it does not directly fund candidates or exchange endorsements for policy commitments.

While Hinojosa’s pledge focuses on CAIR’s property designation, it does not automatically remove other state‑level restrictions tied to the Muslim Brotherhood or other designated entities. The move would, however, eliminate one specific ground for barring future land acquisitions by CAIR chapters.

What’s next?

If Hinojosa follows through after taking office in January 2027, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Homeland Security Council will be consulted as required by law. The rescission would be prospective, affecting only future transactions, and would not alter existing court orders or federal convictions related to the Holy Land Foundation case.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.