Four U.S. human rights organizations have taken legal action against the Trump administration regarding its sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging the measures are illegal. The lawsuit, filed by the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute, was submitted in the Southern District of New York.
The lawsuit claims that President Trump overstepped his authority by issuing an executive order in February 2025 that allowed sanctions on ICC personnel and individuals or entities supporting the court. These sanctions were imposed following the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants in late 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, alleging crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denied.
The plaintiffs argue that the sanctions have hindered their human rights and legal activities, violating rights safeguarded by the U.S. Constitution, including freedom of speech. Liz Evenson, the international justice director at Human Rights Watch, stated during an online news conference that the Trump administration’s actions against the ICC jeopardize the rule of law essential for global human rights protection.
In response to CBC’s inquiry about the lawsuit, a White House official criticized the ICC, claiming it is politicized and improperly asserts the right to investigate, charge, and prosecute U.S. and allied nationals. The official emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and allies from what it deems as illegitimate ICC actions.
The ICC, located in The Hague, focuses on investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and aggression. The U.S. has a longstanding contentious relationship with the ICC, not being a party to the Rome Statute that established the court and rejecting its authority.
Under the Trump administration, tensions with the ICC escalated significantly, with sanctions imposed on the ICC’s former chief prosecutor and several judges, including Kimberly Prost from Canada. Last month, the U.S. government launched a campaign to dismantle the ICC, citing it as a threat to American sovereignty.
Furthermore, U.S.-based advocacy groups sued the Trump administration over the ICC sanctions, alleging they infringe on freedom of speech and stifle Palestinian human rights advocacy. The groups criticized the administration for using economic sanctions to suppress political expression and punish human rights defenders.
In a separate legal development on the same day, U.S. legal groups petitioned a judge to clarify that the Trump administration cannot restrict birthright citizenship. Despite a Supreme Court ruling rejecting the government’s attempt to deny citizenship to certain individuals, Trump issued executive orders seeking to limit birthright citizenship, prompting legal challenges to ensure compliance with the court’s decision.
