Human rights groups sue Trump over ICC sanctions

Two U.S.-based human rights organizations filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, challenging sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on the International Criminal Court, arguing the measures illegally stifle their advocacy for Palestinians and violate constitutional free speech protections.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide, names top administration officials, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as defendants. It seeks a court order to strike down restrictions stemming from an executive order issued in February 2025. That order authorized sanctions against the ICC and prohibited U.S. persons from providing or receiving services to or from sanctioned entities.

The plaintiffs argue the sanctions have forced them to censor their own work. According to the complaint, DAWN has halted submissions to the ICC regarding Israel's conduct in Gaza, stopped exchanging evidence with sanctioned Palestinian non-governmental organizations, and discontinued professional engagements with Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the...