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Families of Trinidadian Nationals Sue U.S. Government Over Fatal Boat Strike
Families of two Trinidadian nationals killed in a Trump administration military strike last October filed a lawsuit against the federal government on Tuesday, characterizing the attack as a war crime and part of what they call an “unprecedented and manifestly unlawful U.S. military campaign.”
The legal action is believed to be the first wrongful death case stemming from the three dozen strikes that the administration has conducted since September on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The lawsuit challenges the legal basis for these operations, which government officials have defended as necessary measures to combat drug trafficking into the United States.
The complaint, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, centers on the October 14 missile strike that killed six people aboard a small boat traveling from Venezuela to Trinidad. Among the victims were Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, whose relatives — Joseph’s mother and Samaroo’s sister — are the plaintiffs in the case.
According to the lawsuit, the men were not affiliated with any drug cartel but were fishermen returning home to Las Cuevas, a fishing community in Trinidad and Tobago, after fishing in Venezuelan waters. The strike was publicly announced by President Trump on his social media platform Truth Social.
“These premeditated and intentional killings lack any plausible legal justification. Thus, they were simply murders, ordered by individuals at the highest levels of government and obeyed by military officers in the chain of command,” the lawsuit states.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the action, saying in a statement that the strike “was conducted against designated narcoterrorists bringing deadly poison to our shores.” She added that “President Trump used his lawful authority to take decisive action against the scourge of illicit narcotics that has resulted in the needless deaths of innocent Americans.”
Legal experts cited in the complaint argue that these military operations constitute a violation of the laws of armed conflict. The lawsuit emphasizes that the strikes have been conducted without congressional authorization and at a time when no formal military conflict exists between the United States and drug cartels that would justify lethal force under international law.
“These killings were wrongful because they took place outside of armed conflict and in circumstances in which Mr. Joseph and Mr. Samaroo were not engaged in activities that presented a concrete, specific, and imminent threat of death or serious physical injury, and where there were means other than lethal force that could have reasonably been employed to neutralize any such threat,” the complaint argues.
The lawsuit invokes both the Death on the High Seas Act, which permits wrongful death cases in such circumstances, and the Alien Tort Statute, which allows foreign nationals to sue in U.S. federal court for alleged human rights violations.
Jeffrey Stein, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union representing the families, told reporters the lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial. “We don’t think that it’s something that we could put a precise dollar amount on,” Stein said. “But we’re seeking damages that can go some way towards bringing justice for these really heinous abuses of power.”
Beyond financial compensation, the legal action aims to prevent future boat strikes by challenging the administration’s claims of authority to conduct such operations.
The Center for Constitutional Rights, whose lawyers are part of the legal team, has also filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking the release of the legal justification for the strikes.
The human cost of these military operations continues to mount. According to recent U.S. military confirmation, at least 126 people have been killed in the campaign, including 116 immediate casualties from at least 36 attacks since early September. An additional 10 individuals are presumed dead after being lost at sea following strikes.
This lawsuit represents the first direct legal challenge to the controversial maritime interdiction campaign and could set an important precedent for how U.S. military force is deployed in drug interdiction operations in international waters.
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8 Comments
This case raises important questions about the balance between national security and human rights. I hope the courts can determine if the administration’s actions were truly justified or amounted to unlawful use of force.
This is a tragic and concerning situation. The families deserve answers and accountability if the military strike was indeed unlawful. I hope the lawsuit brings transparency and justice.
This is a troubling development. The US government needs to be held to high standards when it comes to the use of military force, especially against civilian targets. I hope the courts can provide clarity on the legality of these actions.
This is a complex and sensitive issue. While combating drug trafficking is important, the loss of innocent life is unacceptable. I’m glad the families are seeking accountability through the courts.
It’s critical that the legal system thoroughly examines the basis for these maritime strikes. Innocent lives should not be lost without a strong, lawful rationale. I’m glad the families are pursuing this lawsuit.
Attacking civilian boats is extremely worrisome, even if under the guise of combating drug trafficking. The US government needs to provide clear justification for these operations and ensure proper protocols are followed.
Losing loved ones in such a violent way must be incredibly painful for these families. I hope the legal process can uncover the full truth and ensure proper consequences if the strike was unlawful.
The loss of these fishermen’s lives is tragic. The families deserve answers and compensation if the military strike was unjustified. Hopefully this lawsuit will shed light on the legality of these maritime operations.