US moves to restore sanctions on UN rapporteur Albanese

The US Justice Department on Thursday filed an emergency motion seeking to reinstate sanctions against UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, hours after the Treasury Department removed her from its list in compliance with a federal court order. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate stated on social media that Albanese “has undermined the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” adding that the administration is seeking emergency relief to defend the sanctions regime.

The filing contends that the district court’s injunction is “fundamentally flawed,” arguing that foreign citizens residing outside US territory do not hold rights under the US Constitution. Albanese, an Italian national living abroad, therefore cannot claim First Amendment protections against the sanctions, according to the legal argument presented by government attorneys.

Court ruled sanctions violated free speech

US District Judge Richard Leon ruled last week that the Trump administration likely violated Albanese’s free speech rights by imposing sanctions in response to her criticism of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, granting a preliminary injunction against the measures. A State Department spokesperson confirmed Thursday that authorities had “temporarily removed” Albanese’s name from the Specially Designated Nationals list following the May 13 injunction, speaking on condition of anonymity to Anadolu.

“This temporary removal does not reflect a change in policy,” the spokesperson said, noting that the government has appealed the court’s order. The official added that should the D.C. Circuit stay or overturn the injunction, the administration intends to restore Albanese’s designation to the SDN list immediately.

Rapporteur targeted over ICC advocacy

The administration imposed sanctions on Albanese last year after she encouraged the International Criminal Court in The Hague to pursue war crimes prosecutions against Israeli officials for their conduct in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently accused her of waging a “campaign of political and economic warfare” against the United States and Israel, particularly after a report she authored identified major corporations — including Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Palantir — as allegedly facilitating Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.

Albanese has served since 2022 as the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, monitoring human rights abuses against Palestinians. The sanctions prohibited her from entering the United States, accessing US banking and payment systems, and engaging in business with American entities, prompting her husband — World Bank economist Massimiliano Cali — and their American daughter to file a lawsuit against the administration in February.