The resolution comes days after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC).
United States Representative Ilhan Omar has intensified efforts to counter President Donald Trump’s push to “dismantle” the International Criminal Court (ICC), introducing a resolution urging the U.S. to join the tribunal. This effort follows Rubio’s announcement to “dismantle the ICC—brick by brick, if necessary,” leveraging all government authorities.
Omar’s resolution, introduced on Wednesday, seeks U.S. ratification of the Rome Statute, the legal foundation of the ICC. It also aims to compel the Trump administration to repeal sanctions and visa restrictions targeting court officials.
Omar, a former Somali refugee, emphasized in a statement that aligning with the ICC represents a commitment to global rule of law: “If we genuinely uphold human rights and the rule of law, we must strengthen international justice—not weaken it. The U.S. should lead by example, demonstrating that no one escapes accountability.”
Conversely, the Trump administration has criticized the ICC for investigating U.S. and Israeli personnel. Neither country is a Rome Statute signatory nor recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. However, both face ICC scrutiny: Israel for alleged war crimes in Gaza, including arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant issued in 2024. The U.N. and experts have characterized Israel’s Gaza campaign as genocide against Palestinians. The U.S. has also been investigated for war crimes in Afghanistan post-2001 invasion and alleged “black site” detainee abuses.
Trump’s ICC opposition escalated in 2020, imposing sanctions on court officials and allied groups. Although Biden lifted some measures, Rubio recently announced a “whole-of-government response” to “systematically disable” the ICC. Proposed actions include pressuring allies to reject the court’s authority over U.S. officials and imposing additional sanctions on ICC-affiliated entities.
Omar condemned Rubio’s announcement as “reckless and dangerous,” stating: “I’ve witnessed how impunity fuels violence. The ICC remains vital for victims without recourse.” She further highlighted two U.S. advocacy groups suing the administration, claiming Trump’s sanctions have hindered their First Amendment-protected work on ICC-related cases, including Israel’s Gaza violations.