U.S. Removes Sanctions on UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese

The United States has removed sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, following a federal court order that found the measures likely violated her free speech rights. The Treasury Department updated its website on Wednesday to list Albanese under an "International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal" heading, effectively lifting the restrictions.

The sanctions, imposed by the administration of former President Donald Trump in July 2025, had barred the Italian legal scholar from entering the United States and severely restricted her access to U.S. banking services. Officials at the time accused Albanese of "biased and malicious activities," citing her recommendations that the International Criminal Court investigate Israeli and U.S. officials and entities for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in Gaza.

The reversal comes after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction against the sanctions on May 13. The judge ruled that the administration appeared to have sought to regulate Albanese's speech based on the "idea or message expressed." He noted that her recommendations...