The United States Treasury Department has removed Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the West Bank and Gaza, from its list of sanctioned individuals. The department provided no explanation for the decision, which occurred this week.
The reversal follows a legal challenge brought by Albanese’s family. In February, her husband and their US-born underage daughter, who is an American citizen, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit alleged that the sanctions, which barred Albanese from entering the U.S. And restricted her banking access, were “effectively debanking her and making it nearly impossible to meet the needs of her daily life.” The family’s legal complaint argued that the measures violated First Amendment free speech protections, breached Fifth Amendment due process rights and constituted an unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction against the sanctions. In his ruling, Judge Leon stated, “Protecting the freedom of speech is ‘always’ in the public interest,” finding that the administration likely violated Albanese’s free-speech rights.
The Trump administration had imposed the sanctions last year, accusing Albanese of “political and economic warfare” against the U.S. And Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move at the time, citing “her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt International Criminal Court action against US and Israeli officials, companies and executives.” Rubio further alleged that Albanese had “spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the United States, Israel and the West.”
While Albanese’s role as a UN investigator requires her to act as an objective observer, she has faced long-standing accusations of functioning as an anti-Israel activist. Her public profile has grown significantly during her tenure, including speaking engagements, a documentary appearance, and a social media following exceeding 1 million.
Following the judge’s decision to strike down the sanctions last week, Albanese expressed relief, stating on X, “Thanks to my daughter and my husband for stepping up to defend me, and everyone who has helped so far. Together we are One.” She had previously described the measures as “calculated to weaken my mission.”
The removal of the sanctions may lead to a shift in how Albanese interacts with U.S. Institutions and travel. Observers may watch to see if this judicial intervention influences future diplomatic or legal interactions between UN rapporteurs and the United States government. Given the administration’s previous stance, it remains to be seen if the U.S. Will pursue further legal avenues or if this marks a definitive end to the conflict over her status.