Florida’s New Terrorist Designations Target 100 Organizations
Florida is gearing up to designate around 100 organizations as “terrorist” under new state laws. This move comes after a recent announcement from Governor Ron DeSantis indicating that various bills have taken effect as of the beginning of the month, allowing for a more robust process for labeling groups as terrorist organizations.
In a confident declaration, DeSantis stated, “We will not fund terrorism in our great nation.” He further mentioned that the state agency would not delay in initiating the “initial phase” of assigning domestic terrorist labels, hinting at the possibility of more designations to come.
DeSantis emphasized that the designations will follow the advice of Florida’s homeland security experts. He suggested that his office is prepared to formally declare the first wave of organizations under the new laws.
Among those mentioned for designation are well-known groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Interestingly, Antifa is also set to be included alongside various organizations linked to drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Torren de Aragua.
Add to that, the Governor highlighted that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may also be on the list as a foreign terrorist organization.
Mark Glass, the Director of Law Enforcement and Florida’s chief domestic security officer, noted that this legislation provides the state with additional tools to prevent taxpayer funds from being allocated to entities labeled as terrorist groups. “We will not fund terrorism in our great state,” he affirmed, stressing transparency in the government’s financial dealings.
However, the process has faced legal challenges for quite some time, even before the laws were enacted. DeSantis acknowledged that legal action is expected, but he remains optimistic about the outcome, believing it will ultimately be favorable.
The new law officially went into effect on Wednesday, following a presidential order from DeSantis back in December. It is anticipated that this legislation will provide legal backing in the ongoing disputes surrounding prior executive orders.
Previously, a December executive order had identified CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, prompting CAIR to file a lawsuit against the administration, claiming a violation of their rights. On March 4, a U.S. District Judge granted a temporary restraining order against these executive actions, leading to an appeal from the DeSantis administration shortly thereafter.
As this legal battle continues, the new law is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the state’s approach toward terrorist designations moving forward.
