Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act

This bill tells the U.S. government to punish foreign people who help the International Criminal Court (ICC) try to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute certain “protected persons.” Protected persons include U.S. people and companies, anyone in the United States, and citizens or lawful residents of U.S. allies that haven’t agreed to ICC rules or consented to its authority. Within 60 days of becoming law, and then ongoing, the President must act if the ICC targets these protected persons.

The penalties include freezing any money or property those foreign people have in the United States and blocking their financial transactions here. They also lose the right to get a U.S. visa or enter the country, and any current visas are canceled. These visa blocks also apply to their immediate family members. The bill also cancels any U.S. funds already set aside for the ICC and bans future U.S. funding for it. The President can pause (waive) sanctions for short periods if it is vital to U.S. national security and must report these decisions to Congress; sanctions can be ended if the ICC fully stops these efforts against protected persons.

Key points

• Who is affected: Foreign individuals and groups who assist the ICC’s actions; their immediate family members for visa bans; protected persons include U.S. people and certain allies as defined above.
• What changes: Asset freezes in the U.S.; visa denials and revocations; no U.S. funding for the ICC .
• When: Actions begin within 60 days after it becomes law and continue as needed.