Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the United States has sanctioned International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. The move is part of an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and the Hague-based court over its jurisdiction and investigations.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, and does not recognize its authority over non-consenting governments. Rubio stated that the sanctioned individuals engaged in efforts to investigate or prosecute officials from governments that have not consented to ICC jurisdiction. This follows previous U.S. pushback against court probes into the conduct of American troops in Afghanistan and arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The sanctions mechanically block American citizens from conducting transactions with Akane and Seye and prevent both officials from accessing the U.S. financial system. Rubio previously indicated in July that he intended to use travel bans, visa revocations, and diplomatic pressure to encourage other nations to withdraw from the court. The ICC has not yet provided a comment on the new designations.
The policy also impacts international human rights advocacy groups, at least six of which have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration since June 2026. These organizations state that the sanctions create a "chilling effect" on their day-to-day work, as they face legal risks when documenting alleged crimes in regions under ICC investigation, such as the Gaza Strip. The litigation, including a June lawsuit by three ICC judges in New York, argues that these financial restrictions are unlawful interferences with international justice operations.
The knock-on effects extend to U.S. diplomatic relations, as Rubio is actively pressuring other nations to sever ties with the ICC. This sets a precedent of using domestic financial penalties to influence the membership and operations of a multi-national judicial body. The next steps in this conflict involve the ongoing federal court cases in New York and other jurisdictions, which will determine if the executive branch has the authority to maintain these sanctions against court personnel. Future effective dates for additional travel bans or visa revocations mentioned by Rubio were not specified in the announcement.