On May 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon of the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction blocking the United States from enforcing the executive-order sanctions the Trump administration imposed in July 2025 on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian Territory.
The order is a preliminary injunction, not a final judgment. It concerns enforcement of the sanctions against Albanese and does not invalidate the entire sanctions regime.
The administration imposed sanctions in July 2025. Albanese’s family challenged the resulting restrictions on financial transactions and argued that they punished her reporting and speech.
Upon learning of the ruling, Albanese posted to social media: "Thanks to my daughter and my husband for stepping up to defend me, and everyone who has helped so far. Together we are One."
