The families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. missile strike near Venezuela have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging wrongful death and unlawful military action. The strike, part of a broader campaign targeting suspected drug boats, killed six people on October 14, 2025.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
The lawsuit, filed in Boston’s federal court, is the first legal challenge to the 36 U.S. missile strikes authorized since September 2025, which have killed over 120 people. The plaintiffs—Lenore Burnley (mother of Chad Joseph, 26) and Sallycar Korasingh (sister of Rishi Samaroo, 41)—allege the men were fishermen returning home from Venezuela and had no ties to drug trafficking.
The lawsuit cites the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute, arguing the strike was a violation of international law. The plaintiffs seek damages but not an injunction to halt further strikes.
Deeper Dive & Context
Legal and Political Justifications
The Trump administration defends the strikes as part of a campaign against drug cartels, citing a secret Justice Department opinion that frames the actions as lawful under the laws of war. The Pentagon has described the strikes as targeting vessels linked to criminal organizations.
Opposing Perspectives
Civil rights lawyers, including Baher Azmy of the Center for Constitutional Rights, argue the strikes are unlawful and amount to extrajudicial killings. Legal scholars have questioned the legality of targeting civilians in international waters, while the administration maintains the strikes are justified under its interpretation of armed conflict with cartels.
Broader Implications
The lawsuit could set a precedent for future challenges to the U.S. military’s actions in the region. While the case focuses on damages, it may also prompt judicial scrutiny of the strikes’ legality. The Trump administration has conducted 36 such strikes since September 2025, with a death toll exceeding 100.
The case highlights tensions between national security policies and human rights concerns, with families seeking accountability for what they describe as unlawful killings.