Florida GOP Hopeful Paul Renner Calls for Permanent Federal Ban on Muslim Immigration
Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, now a Republican candidate for governor, said at a Tuesday news conference that he would push for a 'permanent and comprehensive' federal ban on Muslim immigration, arguing that Islam is not compatible with the U.S. Constitution and 'American way of life.' Speaking in front of a 'No Sharia Law' sign, he also called for denaturalizing and deporting people with terrorist ties, taxpayer fraud, or serious criminal convictions, and vowed to cut off funding to schools he says promote 'Sharia law concepts.' Renner pledged to seek legislation designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, echoing but going beyond a 2025 DeSantis executive order on those groups that is currently under a federal injunction on First Amendment grounds. He cited post‑9/11 incidents and the recent ISIS‑linked shooting at Old Dominion University as evidence of a 'recurring pattern of conflict and violence,' using that to justify sweeping religious-based immigration and security restrictions. The platform signals how parts of the post‑9/11, post‑Iran‑war right are moving from country‑of‑origin bans toward explicitly religion‑based immigration proposals that would almost certainly face major constitutional challenges and sharp civil‑liberties backlash if ever translated into federal policy.
📌 Key Facts
- Paul Renner, a Republican candidate for Florida governor and former state House speaker, proposed a 'permanent and comprehensive' federal ban on Muslim immigration at a Tuesday news conference.
- Renner said Islam is not 'long-term compatible' with the U.S. Constitution and American life, and called for denaturalizing and deporting people with terrorist ties, taxpayer fraud, or serious criminal convictions.
- He vowed to cut funding for schools he says promote Sharia concepts and to push federal legislation designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, following a similar but currently enjoined DeSantis executive order.
📊 Relevant Data
The Muslim population in the United States was estimated at 4.45 million in 2020, representing 1.34% of the total population, with growth driven by immigration and higher fertility rates.
Islam in the United States — Wikipedia
Florida's Muslim population is approximately 127,315, accounting for about 0.58% of the state's total population of around 22 million.
Muslim Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act removed national origin quotas, enabling increased immigration from Muslim-majority countries, resulting in significant growth in the US Muslim population post-1965.
Muslim Immigration After 1965 — Religions in Minnesota
Major source countries for Muslim immigrants to the US include Syria, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and others from Muslim-majority nations, with lawful permanent residence grants to nationals from these countries increasing from 102,365 in FY 2000 to higher numbers by FY 2023.
The Accelerating Immigration and Naturalization of Nationals of Muslim-Majority Nations — Center for Immigration Studies
Since September 11, 2001, there have been multiple jihadist terrorist attacks in the United States, with data indicating a decline in average lethality post the Islamic State caliphate peak.
Jihadist Terrorism in the United States — Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
In a 2017 Pew Research survey, a minority of U.S. Muslims supported making Sharia the official law, with global variations showing higher support in some Muslim-majority countries.
Muslims and Islam: Key findings in the U.S. and around the world — Pew Research Center
Florida's population growth from 2016 to 2026 has been largely driven by net migration, with nearly 900,000 people moving to the state in one recent year, including significant international immigration contributing to demographic changes.
Nearly 900K people moved to Florida, new data shows. Here's where they came from — ClickOrlando
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