GOP governor lays out plan to ‘purge’ terrorists and terror supporters from state

Greg Abbott leading effort to ‘purge’ terror supporters from Texas Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott shared his plan to "purge" terror supporters from his state. After designating two prominent Islamic groups "foreign terrorist organizations," Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott gave insight into his plan to "purge" both terrorists and terror supporters from his state. Abbott, who is a close ally of President Donald Trump and is running for a fourth term as governor, recently issued a proclamation designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as "foreign terrorist organizations" and "transnational criminal organizations" under Texas law. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Abbott explained that the designation means that CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood and their affiliates are prohibited from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas. The proclamation also authorizes state agencies to take heightened enforcement measures and legal action against the two organizations. In response, two Texas CAIR chapters filed a federal lawsuit against Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, arguing that the proclamation violates the U.S. Constitution by exceeding state authority and infringing on due process rights. TEXAS GOV ABBOTT DECLARES CAIR, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS TERRORIST GROUPS, PREVENTING LAND PURCHASES Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. (Getty Images) Abbott, however, appeared undaunted. He said that the "very important point" of his actions is to show that "when we as a state or we as a country step up and show there are legal consequences for you trying to violate religious freedom, when you try to impose your religion on somebody else, or whether you may be supporting some type of terror group, that there's going to be consequences to it, that you will be brought into a court of law and be held accountable." "Any organization that supports terrorism, that harbors people who have provided material support for terrorism, is not allowed to exist in our state," said Abbott, adding, "We will purge them from our state, they should be purged from our country, and they definitely should not be receiving tax-exempt status in our country." Shortly after Abbott’s proclamation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order similarly designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. The order bars the groups from receiving state contracts, funding, employment, or benefits, and prohibits state agencies from working with them or entities deemed to support them. Additionally, Trump signed an executive order initiating the federal process for several Muslim Brotherhood chapters to be designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. On Dec. 2, Abbott sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting the suspension of CAIR’s tax-exempt status. MUSLIM GROUPS, OTHER LEADERS DEMAND ABBOTT RESCIND CAIR'S ‘TERRORIST’ DESIGNATION: 'DEFAMATORY' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. (Rebecca Blackwell, File/AP Photo) Though CAIR has pushed back, calling Abbott’s claims false, the governor said, "If they don't want to be labeled a terrorist,...

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