Four human rights organizations in the United States have initiated legal action against President Donald Trump’s administration for imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging that the sanctions are illegal. The lawsuit was filed by the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute in the Southern District of New York.
The lawsuit contends that President Trump overstepped his authority by issuing an executive order in February 2025 that authorized sanctions against ICC personnel and any individuals or entities supporting the court’s operations. 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 on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, allegations that Israel has denied.
The plaintiffs argue that the sanctions have hindered their ability to engage in various human rights and legal activities, infringing on rights safeguarded by the U.S. Constitution, including freedom of speech. During an online news conference, Liz Evenson, the international justice director at Human Rights Watch, expressed concern over the Trump administration’s actions, stating that targeting the ICC through sanctions undermines the rule of law essential for safety and the promotion of human rights globally.
In response to CBC’s request for comment on the lawsuit, a White House official criticized the ICC as politicized and claimed that the court falsely asserts unrestricted discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute U.S. and allied nationals. The official emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to safeguarding sovereignty and allies from what it deems as unjust actions by the ICC.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and aggression. The relationship between the U.S. and the ICC has been tumultuous for many years, with the U.S. not being a party to the Rome Statute that established the court in 1998 and refusing to recognize its authority.
Under the Trump administration, tensions escalated significantly, leading to the imposition of sanctions on the ICC’s former chief prosecutor and several judges, including Canada’s Kimberly Prost. Last month, the U.S. government launched an aggressive campaign to “dismantle” the ICC, citing it as a threat to American sovereignty.
Additionally, advocacy groups in the U.S. filed a separate lawsuit against the Trump administration over the ICC sanctions, alleging violations of freedom of speech and suppression of Palestinian human rights advocacy. The groups accused the administration of using economic sanctions to punish human rights defenders and restrict the political expression of Americans.
Furthermore, three ICC judges subject to sanctions, including Prost, filed a lawsuit in June, arguing that the sanctions unlawfully aim to influence their judicial decision-making. The legal battle surrounding the ICC’s operations and the U.S. government’s stance on international justice continues to unfold amidst ongoing disputes and legal challenges.
In a related development on Tuesday, U.S. legal organizations petitioned a judge to affirm that the Trump administration cannot impose limitations on birthright citizenship. Despite a recent Supreme Court decision rejecting the administration’s attempt to deny citizenship to certain individuals, President Trump issued executive orders seeking to restrict birthright citizenship. Advocacy groups are urging the court to uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling and prevent any executive overreach on matters of citizenship.
The legal battles surrounding human rights, international justice, and citizenship rights highlight the complex legal and ideological disputes at the intersection of domestic and international law.