Human Rights Watch and three other groups sue Trump administration over ICC sanctions

On August 11, 2026, Human Rights Watch, the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the Open Society Institute filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the Trump administration's sanctions against the International Criminal Court. The groups argue that the sanctions, authorized by Executive Order 14203, unconstitutionally penalize work with the ICC, violate their First and Fifth Amendment rights, and undermine international justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The suit targets sanctions on ICC judges, prosecutors, a UN human rights expert, and three Palestinian human rights organizations, and follows a broader U.S. campaign to dismantle the court.

“The executive order unconstitutionally penalizes individuals and organizations for supporting the ICC's mandate to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes, chilling speech and association in violation of the First Amendment.” — Statement from the lawsuit filed by Human Rights Watch and co-plaintiffs on August 11, 2026, challenging Executive Order 14203 sanctions against the International Criminal Court.