Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed an executive order designating one of the country’s most prominent Muslim civil rights groups, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), as a “foreign terrorist organisation,” citing their alleged support for the Palestinian group Hamas.

DeSantis became the second high-profile Republican governor to make a similar move in recent weeks. The designation, which triggers heightened oversight by state law enforcement agencies and establishes financial and operational restrictions, was also declared against the Muslim Brotherhood last month.

CAIR, which has denied any ties to Hamas, was expected to announce a lawsuit against Florida.