Council on American-Islamic Relations California (CAIR-CA) is the California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a left-of-center advocacy organization for Muslims in the United States. ^{1 2}

CAIR-CA supports the abolition of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, ³ claimed the Trump administration “implemented Putin’s KGB tactics” to create a “Muslim registry,” ⁴ criticized Trump administration COVID-19 entry restrictions as “cruel, dangerous, and xenophobic,” ⁵ and supported the creation of a critical race theory-inspired Office of Racial Equity in California state government ⁶ and passage of California’s Racial Justice Act. ^{7 8 9}

History

Council on American-Islamic Relations California (CAIR-CA) was founded in San Francisco in 1994 shortly after the opening of the national headquarters of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Washington, D.C. CAIR-CA opened satellite offices in Los Angeles in 1996, Sacramento in 2002, and San Diego in 2004. ^{10 11}

Activities and Funding

Council on American-Islamic Relations California advocates for left-of-center public policy positions, provides immigration and legal services, supports immigration status adjustment and asylum cases, ¹² conducts outreach campaigns, and works in conjunction with media outlets to promote what CAIR-CA calls an “accurate portrayal of Islam and Muslims.” ^{13 14}

CAIR-CA supports the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency ¹⁵ and opposed the Trump administration’s counterintelligence programs, saying that Trump “implemented Putin’s KGB tactics” to create a “Muslim registry.” ¹⁶ CAIR-CA supported exemptions for students from Trump administration COVID-19-related entry restrictions, calling the restrictions “cruel, dangerous, and xenophobic.” ¹⁷ The organization also supported the creation of a critical race theory-inspired Office of Racial Equity in California state government, ¹⁸ passage of California’s far-left Racial Justice Act, and expanded vote by mail. ¹⁹

CAIR-CA offers trainings for its members on topics including the left-wing critical race theory-influenced concept of “microaggressions” and challenging what the group identifies as “Islamophobia.” ^{20 21} CAIR-CA also called for the firing of teachers who disagree with their worldview ²² and opposed the nomination of Kenneth Marcus as assistant secretary for civil rights in the Department of Education during the Trump administration. ²³

Following the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, CAIR-CA organized an event with controversial left-wing Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour and others to discuss how  they believed “four years of white supremacy” led to the riot. The event also claimed that the critical race theory-influenced concepts of systemic racism disenfranchised African Americans, immigrants, and other minority groups in the U.S. ²⁴

In 2020, CAIR-CA spent $3,591,340 on 693 civil rights lawsuits and 1076 immigration-related cases. That same year, CAIR-CA also spent $448,934 on activism in support of legislation and $448,934 to conduct 334 educational workshops and 578 community outreach events promoting Islam and Muslims. ²⁵ In 2019, CAIR California spent $3,054,702 on 765 civil rights lawsuits and 1305 immigration-related cases. ²⁶

In January 2024, CAIR-CA organized a meeting between several pro-Palestinian activist organizations and California governor Gavin Newsom (D) to discuss demands for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack against Israel by the terror group Hamas as well as ensuring, “freedom of speech, particularly in universities, as students engage in Gaza.” ²⁷ CAIR-CA executive director, Hussam Ayloush, has previously commented that Israel does not have a right to self-defense due to being an “occupier” and that it should be “terminated” as a country. ²⁸ In addition, he refused to call Hamas a terrorist organization, claiming the question is, “not acceptable” and that those who ask it, “…have nothing but bigotry…” in them. ²⁹ Other groups in attendance include the Northern California Islamic Council and Palestinian American Medical Association, both of whom were reported to have ties to anti-Israeli organizations including American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Al-Awda (Palestinian Right to Return Coalition). ³⁰

Funding

Council on American-Islamic Relations California (CAIR-CA) receives funding from individual contributions and grants. ³¹ CAIR-CA reported revenue of $6,794,697 and expenses of $6,047,219 in 2020 ³² and revenue of $5,520,389 and expenses of $1,852,291 in 2019. ³³ Also in 2019, CAIR-CA hosted a fundraiser that featured U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). In her remarks, Omar told atttendees to “raise hell” and “make people uncomfortable.” ^{34 35}

In 2022, CAIR-CA received $500,000 from the left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation. ³⁶ In 2021, CAIR-CA received a $254,999 grant from the American Online Giving Foundation. ³⁷

In 2020, CAIR-CA received $225,666 from the American Online Giving Foundation; $200,250 from left-of-center California Community Foundation; $140,00 from the left-leaning California Endowment; $150,000 from the Weingart Foundation; $99,500 from the San Francisco Foundation; $60,000 from Orange County Community Foundation; $47,200 from the Schwab Charitable Fund; $41,869 from Network for Good; $41,000 from the Boukai Family Foundation;  $30,000 from the left-of-center East Bay Community Foundation; ³⁸ $18,700 from Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ); $16,000 from the McCune Foundation; $15,000 from the Ventura County Community Foundation; $20,000 from the East Bay Community Foundation; $10,000 from the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation; $10,00 from California Changemakers; and others. ³⁹

CAIR-CA also received grants of $90,929 from the Inland Empire Community Foundation in 2019 ⁴⁰ and  $24,000 from the San Francisco Foundation in 2018. ⁴¹ In 2017 CAIR-CA received $236,800 from the left-of-center Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF); ⁴² $19,237 from the PayPal Charitable Giving Fund; ⁴³ and undisclosed amount from the left-of-center Proteus Fund. ⁴⁴

CAIR-LA operates the Muslim Community Action Network (MCAN), which organizes Islamic centers in Los Angeles, ⁴⁵ and is affiliated with CAIR-CA Action, a 501(c)(4) lobbying organization. ⁴⁶

Leadership

Hussam Ayloush is the CEO of CAIR California. ⁴⁷ Ayloush is an elected delegate and executive board member for the California Democratic Party. He is on the advisory board of the Orange County chapter of the left-of-center Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) ⁴⁸ and was previously on the board of Interfaith Worker Justice. ⁴⁹ Ayloush also was one of 20 plaintiffs that signed on to a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s executive order restricting the entry of individuals from terror-sponsoring nations into the United States. ^{50 51}

Ayloush has previously made anti-Israeli statements, claiming that Israel does not have a right to self-defense due to being an “occupier” and that it should be “terminated” as a country. ⁵² In addition, he refused to call Hamas a terrorist organization, claiming the question is, “not acceptable” and that those who ask it, “…have nothing but bigotry…” in them. ⁵³

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