Four human rights groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, arguing that President Donald Trump’s imposition of sanctions on the International Criminal Court is illegal.
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The groups said the sanctions were a “blatantly illegal attack on international justice” that must be struck down. They alleged that the sanctions infringe on constitutional rights to free speech, association and religion, and that they violate obligations under international law.
The Hague-based ICC is the only permanent international court with the power to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and war crimes. The United States does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.
A White House official said the U.S. has been steadfast in its opposition to what it called the court’s “illegitimate judicial overreach.” The official called the court a “national security threat” that has been an “instrument for lawfare” against the U.S. and Israel.
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In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order placing sanctions on the ICC, alleging that the court engaged in “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the U.S. and “close ally Israel,” including by issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu along with a former Israeli defense minister and former Hamas commander in 2024, accusing each of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The rights groups that filed the suit are the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch and the Open Society Foundations.
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