Muslims have been part of American history for roughly 400 years, long before the United States was founded. An estimated 30% of enslaved Africans brought to this country are believed to have been Muslim. From those who preserved their faith, language, and scholarship under slavery to American Muslims who have served, organized, built institutions, and fought for civil rights across generations, Muslim communities have helped shape this country’s history.
At the same time, Muslims have long faced discrimination, exclusion, and suspicion. Islamophobia intensified in the 1990s and became especially severe after 9/11, as Muslims were targeted through government surveillance, anti-Muslim legislation, negative media portrayals, profiling, hate crimes, and other forms of systemic discrimination. That targeting is not isolated. It reflects a broader pattern in American public life, where racial and religious minorities, civil rights groups, and social justice movements are often scapegoated when they speak out, organize, or challenge government abuse.
This FAQ provides context for the most recent attacks on CAIR and outlines what is at stake for Muslim communities, allied movements, and civil society.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was founded in 1994 to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. Today, that mission is more important than ever, as federal agencies and state officials revive familiar forms of discrimination and devise new ways to restrict dissent, often primarily targeting Muslims and our allies in the civil rights community.
The current political atmosphere on the federal level has created an opening for anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian provocateurs at the state level to advance similar campaigns of hate. As a result, CAIR and its affiliate chapters have faced increasing attacks from disinformation campaigns here in California to all-out assaults on CAIR chapters in Texas and Florida. The motivations behind these attacks vary: some seek to advance an anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim agenda and view CAIR’s work defending these marginalized communities as a roadblock to their efforts; others appear to be retaliating against and attempting to silence outspoken critics of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The attacks on CAIR appear to be a test case for this administration and its allies. The tools they hone against CAIR—whether framed through national security, fraud, or other pretexts—can be turned against any nonprofit, institution, or individual that challenges this institution’s harmful agenda. By targeting CAIR, political actors are testing boundaries, normalizing political retribution, and attempting to establish precedents that could threaten civil rights advocacy far beyond the Muslim community. Civil society groups must condemn these attacks and stand together in solidarity against the harmful precedent they set.
As stated in the Charity & Security Network’s recent report:
“CAIR has set an example of resilience that nonprofit organizations can look to when planning how to respond to potential attacks. It has publicly responded to disinformation about it by leading with its values and debunking false narratives. It has not backed down from its mission or been silenced when it encounters official wrongdoing…[c]ivil society is fortunate to have CAIR on the front lines protecting free speech and association rights, and the nonprofit sector must continue to support such efforts.”
These attacks are part of a broader escalation targeting American Muslims since the start of the second Trump administration, including renewed travel bans targeting predominantly Muslim countries, the illegal detainment and attempted deportation of Muslim students, and attempts to intimidate, silence, or dismantle organizations that advocate for Palestinian, Muslim, immigrant, and civil rights.
These efforts are also fueled by a well-funded Islamophobia network. A 2021 CAIR National report found that $105.8 million flowed into organizations promoting anti-Muslim hate and policies over a two-year period. These resources help spread fear, misinformation, and political attacks in an attempt to isolate Muslim communities and weaken the institutions that defend them.
Some right-wing members of Congress are amplifying false claims from anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim provocateurs, such as Julie Marzouk, that CAIR-CA misappropriated public funds. These allegations are categorically untrue. CAIR-CA rejects them in the strongest possible terms and maintains that these attacks are an attempt to sideline and malign CAIR-CA because of its advocacy on behalf of Muslim, Palestinian, and immigrant communities, and protection of civil rights for all.
CAIR-CA’s use of public funds is fully accounted for. CAIR-CA has complied with all reporting and legal obligations related to these funds. All CAIR-CA grants require an extensive application and review process, including the submission of fiscal, legal, and programmatic information. CAIR-CA operates in full transparency and cooperation with its funders.
It is dangerous and shameful that members of Congress are using their government positions and roles on various congressional committees to platform individuals who spread conspiracy theories and fan the flames of hate against immigrants, refugees, Muslim communities, and Americans who exercise their right to free speech.
Governors Abbott and DeSantis have attempted to label CAIR chapters in their respective states as “foreign terrorist organizations.” These accusations are baseless, unlawful, and part of a broader pattern of government overreach by elected officials with long records of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies targeting Muslim communities. CAIR National has already won an injunction in Florida against this accusation and has sued Governor Abbott for his disregard of the Constitution and civil rights.
CAIR recognizes that these attacks come with the cost of advocating for justice, but we will not allow false allegations or government intimidation to go unanswered. We will continue correcting the record, defending our work, and protecting the communities we serve.
Absolutely not. CAIR-CA receives funds under a variety of grants, but recent allegations focus on a grant awarded to CAIR-CA by the State of California through the Afghan Legal Services Project (ALSP), a program supporting direct legal immigration services, education, and outreach for recently arrived Afghans.
The ALSP grant was awarded following a thorough state review and selection process. CAIR-CA, its regional offices, and all other organizations receiving funds were subject to regular oversight, reporting, and transparency requirements.
CAIR-CA received funding for two distinct purposes. First, CAIR-CA’s regional offices were funded to provide direct legal immigration services to recently arrived Afghans. Second, CAIR-CA, through its Los Angeles office and headquarters, served as the program administrator, distributing funds to service providers selected and approved by the State of California, including both CAIR-CA regional offices and non-CAIR-CA organizations.
The service providers selected under the grant included a diverse group of Jewish, Catholic, secular, and human rights organizations. In fact, over 90% of the ALSP awardees selected and approved by the State of California were non-CAIR-CA organizations.
The Intelligent Advocacy Network (IAN) is an anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian organization that, according to the California Secretary of State website, was formed in July 2024. The organization’s initial founders included Julie Marzouk and Susan George. Based on a review of IAN’s website and online postings, the organization appears focused on one main purpose: to smear CAIR and any other organizations that criticize U.S. foreign policy and the Israeli oppression of the Palestinian people.
IAN’s allegations appear to be based on its intentional misrepresentation of grants provided to CAIR-CA and CAIR-CA’s organizational structure, along with distorted facts and events taken out of context to create a thinly veiled, easily refutable, false narrative about CAIR-CA. IAN’s baseless accusations and overall strategy mirror tactics used by many other anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic actors, leveraging the current wave of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment to advance an apparent “silence all criticism of Israel” agenda. The goal appears to be creating enough noise, pressure, and stigma to drown out the voices of organizations and individuals speaking out against Israel’s atrocities in Palestine, chill free speech, and encourage organizations and individuals to self-censor—all at the expense of essential services for marginalized Californians and immigrants.
No, CAIR-CA is not involved in vetting immigrants. That responsibility belongs to the federal government, not nonprofit legal service providers. Recently arrived Afghans have undergone rigorous federal immigration screening and vetting processes.
No, CAIR-CA is not under investigation by any of its direct public or private funders. We have a proven track record of managing funds responsibly to serve vulnerable community members. Our funders have continued to partner with us because of that record and our commitment to transparency.
CAIR-CA has also earned a Platinum Transparency rating from Candid, an Accredited Charity title under the Better Business Bureau, and recognition for meeting high standards by the Charities Review Council.
Unfortunately, no. CAIR-CA is one of many nonprofit organizations facing politically motivated attacks. The Trump administration and its allies across the country have targeted organizations that provide support and legal services to immigrants and marginalized communities, as well as organizations that advocate for rights, services, and viewpoints they oppose.
These attacks extend across many sectors, including education, healthcare, public broadcasting, the arts, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In this moment, it is important for our communities to stand together to resist misinformation and attacks on our rights from anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, and xenophobic individuals and institutions.
CAIR-CA is grateful to everyone who has shown solidarity with us and stood alongside us in the fight for justice.
