Four U.S.-based human rights organizations have taken legal action against President Donald Trump’s administration for imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that the sanctions are illegal. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, was brought forth by the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute.

The legal challenge alleges that Trump overstepped his authority by issuing an executive order in February 2025 that allowed for sanctions against 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 over alleged crimes in Gaza, which Israel has refuted.

The lawsuit contends that the sanctions have hindered the plaintiffs’ human rights and legal activities, infringing upon their constitutional rights, including freedom of speech. Human Rights Watch’s international justice director, Liz Evenson, expressed concerns during an online news conference, emphasizing that the Trump administration’s actions undermine the rule of law necessary for safety and human rights protection globally.

The White House responded to inquiries about the lawsuit by criticizing the ICC, labeling it as politicized and claiming it exceeds its mandate by targeting U.S. and allied nationals. The U.S. government’s intensified efforts to dismantle the ICC have escalated tensions, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleging that the court poses a threat to American sovereignty through legal maneuvers.

In a separate legal development, U.S. advocacy groups have challenged Trump’s administration over the ICC sanctions, arguing that they impede freedom of speech and stifle advocacy for Palestinian rights. The groups have raised concerns about the use of economic sanctions to silence human rights defenders and suppress political expression.

Furthermore, sanctioned ICC judges, including Canada’s Kimberly Prost, filed their own lawsuit in June, contending that the sanctions aim to influence their judicial independence. These legal battles reflect the deep-rooted discord between the U.S. and the ICC, which has persisted for years, with the U.S. government refusing to recognize the court’s authority since its inception in 1998.