A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's sanctions against Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer serving as UN special rapporteur on the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, ruling that the measures likely violated her constitutional right to free speech.
US District Judge Richard Leon in Washington found that the sanctions, imposed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July 2025, were retaliation for Albanese's public criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The judge noted that her recommendations to the International Criminal Court carry no binding power and constitute protected opinion.
The sanctions had barred Albanese from entering the United States and conducting banking transactions there. Albanese's husband and daughter, a US citizen, filed suit against the administration in February, arguing the restrictions effectively isolated the family from the American financial system and made it nearly impossible to meet basic living expenses.
In his written opinion, Judge Leon emphasized that Albanese's residence outside the United States does not diminish her constitutional protections. He stated directly: "Albanese has done nothing more than speak."
The sanctions originated from an executive order Trump issued authorizing action against individuals involved in the ICC's investigation of Israeli actions in Gaza. Albanese had recommended that the international criminal court pursue war crimes prosecutions against Israeli and US nationals.
Albanese has characterized the sanctions as part of a coordinated effort by the US to undermine international accountability mechanisms. The temporary block leaves the broader question of the sanctions' legality unresolved, but represents a significant legal setback for the administration's effort to punish international officials whose work runs counter to its Middle East policy.
Author James Rodriguez: "This ruling cuts to the core of what's at stake when a government weaponizes foreign policy against speech it dislikes, even speech from someone thousands of miles away."
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