Two United States advocacy groups have sued the Trump administration in a Manhattan federal court, arguing that sweeping economic sanctions targeting international courts and rights organizations infringe on Americans' First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit, filed by Democracy in the Arab World Now (Dawn) and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide, contends that the 2025 sanctions package disrupts Palestine-related advocacy by forcing US professionals to end constitutional partnerships.
According to the 43-page complaint, the groups have historically worked with the International Criminal Court (ICC), sanctioned Palestinian non-governmental organizations, and UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese to document human rights violations.
Legal Challenge to Executive Order
Dawn executive director Omar Shakir expressed concern that the federal government is using broad economic penalties to restrict domestic political expression and penalize international human rights defenders.
The legal filing notes that under Donald Trump's executive order 14203, American employees continuing their advocacy and research collaborations could face civil penalties and federal criminal prosecution.
"Each of these activities is protected speech and association, squarely within the First Amendment’s heartland," the lawsuit states.
The litigation was initiated two days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened to dismantle the international court entirely, drawing sharp criticism from legal observers.
Several legal professionals have backed the lawsuit, including some who previously challenged similar executive overreach regarding international human rights advocacy.
"I had to stop certain aspects of my work supporting affected populations around the world," said Akila Radhakrishnan, an international human rights lawyer.
The lawsuit details how previous US actions have hampered global justice mechanisms and negatively affected victims seeking legal redress worldwide.
"The US attacks have disrupted the ecosystem for international justice, devastating victims’ prospects for justice the world over," Radhakrishnan said.
The plaintiffs emphasize that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) exempts personal, noncommercial communications from executive sanctions authority.
"If the Executive is permitted to blow past constitutional and statutory restraints here, there is little to stop it from weaponizing IEEPA to target other disfavored viewpoints," the lawsuit says.
The legal complaint further warns of potential future abuses, such as targeting environmental groups or climate advocates if a national emergency is declared over energy prices.
"A future president could, for example, declare a ‘national emergency’ over high energy prices, designate foreign environmental groups that campaign against fossil fuel extraction, and cut off American climate advocates from their overseas partners … The list of potential abuses is virtually endless," the lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs also contend that the measures do not achieve their intended purpose of halting prosecutions by the international tribunal.
"Suppressing [advocates’] speech, after all, does nothing to prevent ICC prosecutors from conducting their own investigations," the legal brief says.
The legal action names Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Brad Smith as defendants.
Former Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth criticized the administration's legal strategy to shield foreign officials from international accountability.
"It is bad enough that the Trump administration is using extraordinary powers to protect Israeli officials from efforts to bring them to justice for their genocide and war crimes," Roth said.
Roth concluded by emphasizing the constitutional problems associated with penalizing American citizens who assist international human rights investigations.
"But it is blatantly unconstitutional for Trump to threaten American citizens and residents for assisting such efforts," Roth said.
