Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration Sanctions on UN Official Francesca Albanese

N. official Francesca Albanese. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon issued a preliminary injunction halting sanctions announced in July 2025 by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Treasury Department.

Albanese serves as the United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories and has accused Israel of war crimes and human rights abuses in Gaza. The sanctions targeted her “biased and malicious activities” in rhetoric and actions recommending war crime charges against Israel to the International Criminal Court.

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. They stated the sanctions have caused “irreparable harms” in their personal and professional lives. Judge Richard J. Leon, appointed by President George W. He determined it is undisputed that Francesca Albanese’s recommendations have no binding effect on the ICC’s actions and are nothing more than her opinion.

U.S. to be granted First Amendment rights.

U.S. , and she often travels to the country for her work. Judge Richard J. Leon determined that the sanctions caused sufficient “irreparable harm” to Francesca Albanese, her husband, and her daughter, an American citizen, to warrant a preliminary injunction.

He pointed to effects on property rights, her daughter’s ability to enter the country, and their familial relations. Judge Richard J. N. ” Francesca Albanese wrote on X: “ICC judges and Palestinian NGOs remain sanctioned with no recourse to justice.

Washington Examiner reported the details of the ruling and the underlying sanctions dispute. The decision leaves Albanese free to continue her work as special rapporteur while her family’s legal challenge proceeds.