Various domestic and foreign entities have been identified as 

terrorist groups or linked to extremist activity in Texas by state authorities or independent research organizations. 

Groups Designated by the State of Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has used executive orders to designate several organizations as foreign terrorist organizations or transnational criminal organizations, though the authority for states to make such federal-level designations is being legally challenged. 

• Mexican Drug Cartels: The Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and “similarly situated” cartels were designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
• Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR: In November 2025, the Governor designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations. CAIR has filed a federal lawsuit, arguing the designation is unconstitutional and defamatory, and noting that neither organization is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government.
• Tren De Aragua: This group was also designated a terrorist organization by the Governor in September 2024. 

Groups Identified as Active by Research

Independent research from sources like George Washington University’s Program on Extremism identifies several other domestic extremist groups with an active presence or activity in Texas:

• White Supremacist Groups: Local white supremacist groups, such as Patriot Front, have been noted for an increase in propaganda distribution in recent years.
• Racially Motivated and Anti-Government Extremists: Racially motivated and anti-government militia violent extremists have mobilized across the state.
• Black Hebrew Israelite Movement: Extremist groups associated with this movement, including Israel United in Christ and the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge, maintain an active presence.
• Neo-Nazi Groups: International neo-Nazi terror groups like the Atomwaffen Division, founded in the U.S., have an international presence that includes U.S. chapters (though a specific Texas chapter isn’t mentioned in the source, the general presence is relevant).
• Anarchist and Anti-Authority Extremists: Anti-authority violent extremists, anarchist violent extremists, and other single-issue actors continue to mobilize in Texas.