In a week marked by renewed scrutiny of migration and the influence of radical organizations, both the United States and Canada have found themselves at the center of heated debates surrounding national security, immigration policy, and the reach of extremist ideologies. Recent developments in Texas and Washington, D.C., have thrown these issues into sharp relief, with political leaders on both sides of the border taking decisive—and, to some, controversial—action.
On November 18, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made headlines by officially designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as “foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations.” According to reporting by HonestReporting Canada, Abbott’s statement was unambiguous: the groups “have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world.’” This bold move came as part of a broader push to address what some officials describe as the growing threat of Islamist extremism within North America.
Meanwhile, in Washington, President Donald Trump responded forcefully to a violent incident near the White House. On November 26, two National Guard members were shot in what Trump described as a “heinous assault.” In a video statement, the president asserted, “No country can tolerate such a risk to our very survival,” and pointed to what he called “lax migration policies” as “the single greatest national security threat facing our nation,” according to the Associated Press. Trump’s remarks underscored his administration’s commitment to tightening immigration controls and increasing scrutiny of migrants, particularly those from conflict zones.
The suspect in the shooting, identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national, entered the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome—a Biden-era program that resettled approximately 76,000 Afghans following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Kabul. Many of these evacuees had served as interpreters and translators for American troops, and the program was initially praised for providing a lifeline to those at risk of Taliban reprisals. However, as the Associated Press notes, Operation Allies Welcome has since come under fire from Trump, congressional Republicans, and certain government watchdogs, who cite gaps in the vetting process and the rapid pace of admissions as areas of concern.
Trump’s reaction to the shooting was swift and uncompromising. He announced that his administration would review the backgrounds of all Afghans admitted under President Joe Biden, a measure that had reportedly been in the works even before the latest incident. The president’s comments extended beyond the immediate case, as he also criticized migration in Minnesota—home to the nation’s largest Somali community, numbering around 87,000. “Hundreds of thousands of Somalians are ripping apart that once-great state,” Trump remarked, according to the Associated Press, linking the issue to his broader ambitions to rein in migration across the United States.
In the wake of these developments, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it would indefinitely halt the processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a comprehensive review of security and vetting protocols. This decision has left many Afghans, including those who remain stranded at transit points in the Middle East and Europe, in a state of limbo. Some had already undergone extensive processing and medical evaluations at U.S. military bases, only to find their futures now uncertain as Trump’s administration pauses the program and ramps up deportation efforts.
Not everyone agrees with the administration’s approach. Supporters of Afghan evacuees have voiced concerns that the actions of one individual should not cast a shadow over tens of thousands who have followed legal pathways to resettlement. Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, told the Associated Press, “I don’t want people to leverage this tragedy into a political ploy.” He emphasized that the vast majority of Afghan nationals resettled in the U.S. pose no threat and have undergone rigorous screening procedures.
Vice President JD Vance, however, echoed the administration’s hardline stance. Writing on social media, Vance criticized the Biden administration for “opening the floodgate to unvetted Afghan refugees,” adding, “they shouldn’t have been in our country.” He dismissed suggestions that current immigration policies were too harsh, asserting, “Tonight is a reminder of why they’re wrong.”
These U.S. developments have unfolded against a backdrop of growing concern about the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliated organizations in North America. A 2025 report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) found what it described as “the deep-rooted presence and growing influence of Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated organizations across Canada’s civil, academic, political, and financial spheres.” The report argued that “extremist ideologies have taken hold through rebranded and well-funded organizations,” and called on the Canadian government to ban the Muslim Brotherhood outright.
Despite these calls, the Carney government in Canada has yet to take action against the group. The ISGAP report identified several organizations as having links to the Brotherhood, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), formerly known as CAIR-CAN, Islamic Relief Canada, IRFAN-Canada, and the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC). The NCCM, in particular, has attempted to distance itself from its U.S. counterpart but previously referred to CAIR as its “parent organization.” The NCCM has also become a vocal critic of Israel and has attracted support from Canadian elected officials. Notably, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow accused Israel of “genocide” at an NCCM event, while Prime Minister Mark Carney visited MAC in the spring of 2025 to praise “Muslim values.”
The reach of the Muslim Brotherhood extends beyond North America. Qatar, an oil-rich Gulf state, has used its resources to promote Brotherhood-linked ideology, particularly on university campuses. Qatar also hosts much of Hamas’s high command, providing them with protection and luxury, according to HonestReporting Canada. Over the last two years, amid the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict, Islamist extremists have become increasingly vocal in Canada—both online and in public demonstrations—while law enforcement and officials have been slow to respond.
These parallel developments in the United States and Canada have reignited longstanding debates about the balance between security and openness, the dangers of extremism, and the responsibilities of governments to protect their citizens while upholding democratic values. As both countries grapple with the challenges posed by radical ideologies and the complexities of migration, the coming months are likely to see continued debate—and, perhaps, further action—on these contentious issues.
For now, the conversation shows no signs of abating, as leaders, advocates, and ordinary citizens alike wrestle with the difficult questions of safety, identity, and the future direction of their societies.
