Muslim groups demand equitable access to federal security grant programs

WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately restore equitable access for Muslim institutions to federal nonprofit security grants, following a deadly attack on a mosque in San Diego and reports of systemic barriers affecting Muslim organizations’ participation in protection programs.

In a formal letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, CAIR argued that Muslim organizations across the country continue to face barriers in accessing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which is intended to help vulnerable religious and community institutions strengthen physical security against potential attacks.

The organization stated that reports from across the United States have raised concerns that Muslim groups have been excluded, delayed, or discouraged from participating in the program under previous DHS leadership. CAIR referenced media accounts alleging that funding decisions have, in some cases, relied on vague or unsubstantiated claims of extremism, resulting in the suspension or denial of grants to Muslim institutions.

CAIR described this pattern as part of broader structural inequity in how federal security resources are distributed, arguing that unequal access to protection funding leaves Muslim communities more exposed to threats ranging from hate-driven violence to coordinated attacks on places of worship.

The appeal comes in the immediate aftermath of a fatal shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where three people, including a security guard, were killed during an attack authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime. The suspects reportedly died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds after the assault.

The timing of the attack occurred shortly before major religious observances including Eid al-Adha and the annual Hajj pilgrimage, periods when mosques typically experience higher attendance and increased public activity.

Advocates emphasize that the San Diego incident underscores the urgent need for consistent and non-discriminatory access to federal security support, particularly as data from civil rights groups indicate a pattern of violent threats targeting mosques across the United States, including bomb threats, arson attempts, and attempted mass casualty attacks.

The letter emphasizes that federal grant programs designed to protect at-risk institutions must be administered in a manner that is transparent, consistent, and free from bias, warning that any perception of unequal treatment undermines both community trust and public safety outcomes.

At the center of the appeal is a broader policy question: whether Muslim institutions are receiving equal protection under federal security frameworks, especially as extremist violence and hate crimes targeting religious minorities remain documented concerns.

CAIR’s intervention reflects growing pressure on federal agencies to ensure that security resources are distributed based on threat levels and vulnerability rather than perceived political or religious considerations. Advocates argue that equitable access is essential to preventing future attacks and strengthening trust between Muslim communities and government institutions.