Four U.S. human rights organizations have taken legal action against the Trump administration, challenging the sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as illegal. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York by the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute, accuses President Trump of overstepping his authority with an executive order issued in February 2025. This order authorized sanctions against ICC personnel and individuals or groups from foreign nations supporting the court, following the issuance of arrest warrants in late 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant by the ICC, alleging crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza – allegations that Israel has refuted.
The plaintiffs argue that the sanctions have hindered their human rights and legal activities, infringing on rights protected under the U.S. Constitution, including freedom of speech. In an online news conference, Liz Evenson, the international justice director at Human Rights Watch, expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s actions, stating that these sanctions undermine the rule of law crucial for safety and the protection of human rights globally.
In response to CBC’s inquiry about the lawsuit, a White House official criticized the ICC for being politicized and claimed false discretion in investigating and prosecuting U.S. nationals and allies. The U.S. government has intensified efforts to dismantle the ICC, citing it as a threat to American sovereignty. The relationship between the U.S. and the ICC has been contentious for years, with tensions escalating under the Trump administration, which sanctioned the ICC’s former chief prosecutor and several judges, including Canada’s Kimberly Prost.
Moreover, advocacy groups have sued the Trump administration over the sanctions, alleging violations of freedom of speech and suppression of Palestinian human rights advocacy. Separately, sanctioned ICC judges, including Prost, filed a lawsuit arguing that the sanctions aim to impact their judicial independence. The Trump administration’s recent executive orders attempting to restrict birthright citizenship have also faced legal challenges, with U.S. legal groups seeking clarity from the courts on the matter.
Overall, these legal battles highlight the ongoing conflicts between the U.S. government and international bodies like the ICC, raising concerns about the protection of human rights and the rule of law in global affairs.