Four human rights organizations in the United States have taken legal action against President Donald Trump’s administration for imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging that the sanctions are illegal. The American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in the Southern District of New York.
The lawsuit contends that Trump overstepped his authority when he issued an executive order in February 2025 allowing sanctions against ICC personnel and individuals or groups supporting the court’s activities. 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 for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, allegations that Israel has denied.
The plaintiffs argue in the lawsuit that the sanctions have hindered their human rights and legal advocacy work, infringing on rights safeguarded under the U.S. Constitution, including freedom of speech. Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized during an online news conference that the Trump administration’s actions undermine the rule of law essential for safety and the protection of human rights globally.
In response to inquiries about the lawsuit, a White House official stated in an email that the ICC is politicized and falsely claims unrestricted authority to investigate, charge, and prosecute U.S. and allied nationals. The official affirmed that the United States will take necessary measures to safeguard sovereignty and allies from what it deems illegitimate actions by the ICC.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. The relationship between the U.S. and the ICC has been tumultuous for years, with escalating tensions during the Trump administration, which previously sanctioned the ICC’s former chief prosecutor and several judges, including Canada’s Kimberly Prost.
Last month, the U.S. government initiated an intensified effort to “dismantle” the ICC, citing a threat to American sovereignty. Advocacy groups in the U.S. also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for the ICC sanctions, alleging violations of free speech and restricting Palestinian human rights advocacy.
Additionally, three sanctioned ICC judges, including Prost, filed a lawsuit in June, arguing that the sanctions aim to influence their judicial decision-making. The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York.