Families of two men from Trinidad and Tobago have filed a federal lawsuit against the United States government, claiming their loved ones were unlawfully killed in a U.S. military strike on a boat in international waters. The legal action marks the first wrongful death suit connected to a series of controversial U.S. maritime strikes targeting vessels the administration says are linked to narcotics trafficking.
Lawsuit Alleges Unlawful Killings in International Waters
Relatives of Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, say the October 14 strike occurred while the men were returning home from Venezuela to Las Cuevas, Trinidad and Tobago, and that they were not involved in drug trafficking. The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts federal court under the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute, argues the attack violated international and domestic law by targeting civilians without legal authority or due process.
Civil rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Center for Constitutional Rights, and legal scholars representing the families contend that the military campaign lacks proper authorization and oversight, potentially constituting wrongful and extrajudicial killings. They say the plaintiffs are seeking damages and a judicial review of the operation’s legality.
Controversial Military Campaign Under Scrutiny
The lawsuit is the first legal challenge tied to an ongoing U.S. military initiative that has seen dozens of strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since late 2025. The U.S. administration has described the operations as part of a broader effort to disrupt drug trafficking networks and has defended them as lawful efforts against transnational criminal threats.
However, critics — including legal experts and members of Congress — question the justification for using military force in international waters absent a formal declaration of war or clear evidence linking the boats to hostile actions. They argue that the lack of transparency around the legal basis for these strikes warrants judicial and congressional scrutiny.
Families Seek Accountability and Transparency
In court filings, the plaintiffs maintain that Joseph and Samaroo were civilian workers, not combatants, and that non-lethal alternatives should have been pursued if there were suspicions of wrongdoing. They assert that the government failed to provide evidence tying the victims to illicit activity or drug cartels — a key point of contention in the case.
The legal action underscores growing concerns over the United States’ use of force in maritime security operations and raises questions about compliance with international humanitarian standards and human rights protections.
