Four U.S. human rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of its sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute lodged the complaint 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 allowed for sanctions against ICC personnel, as well as foreign individuals or groups 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 ex-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 impeded their human rights and legal activities, infringing on rights safeguarded by the U.S. Constitution, including freedom of speech. Liz Evenson, the international justice director at Human Rights Watch, expressed concerns during an online news conference, stating that the Trump administration’s actions undermine the rule of law crucial for safety and human rights protection worldwide.
In response to the lawsuit, a White House official criticized the ICC, labeling it as politicized and asserting the U.S. government’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and that of its allies from what it deems as illegitimate actions by the ICC. The ICC, based 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 fraught for years, with tensions escalating significantly under the Trump administration. Last month, the U.S. government launched an aggressive campaign to “dismantle” the ICC, citing threats to American sovereignty. Additionally, advocacy groups have challenged the Trump administration’s ICC sanctions, alleging violations of free speech rights and restrictions on Palestinian human rights advocacy.
Separately, legal groups in the U.S. have sought clarification from a judge regarding the Trump administration’s attempts to restrict birthright citizenship, following a Supreme Court ruling rejecting efforts to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to unauthorized or temporary resident parents. Despite the Supreme Court decision, President Trump issued executive orders targeting birthright citizenship, prompting legal challenges by the American Civil Liberties Union and others to uphold the court’s directive.