Investigate the Trump Administration’s Extrajudicial Killings (UPDATED 9/22)

Updates

Sept 22, 2025: Four civilian vessels have now been struck by US forces in the Caribbean, with a total death count of 19. While Pentagon lawyers raise alarms over the legality of these unprovoked attacks, the White House is now circulating legislation that would grant Trump sweeping military authority to kill anyone he deems to be a drug trafficker and attack countries they claim support them.

Sept 16, 2025: Trump ordered the U.S. military to strike a 2nd vessel in international waters, killing 3 people. Despite the administration’s claims that the boat carried drug traffickers from Venezuela, they provided no evidence to justify the military attack. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has introduced a War Powers resolution to terminate these unauthorized attacks.

On September 2nd, US military forces attacked a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing 11 people. The Trump administration has since claimed, without evidence, that the vessel was carrying Tren de Aragua drug traffickers and the strike was made in self-defense. While interdiction is the typical protocol for such situations, it seems this step was ignored. Further, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that interdiction does not work, stating, “what will stop them is when you blow them up.". Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signaled his intention to continue extrajudicial attacks.

Days after the attack, Pentagon officials were still scrambling to find a legal basis for attacking a vessel in international waters. Congress has not authorized military force against Venezuela or Tren de Aragua, nor is self-defense an accepted basis for summarily killing suspected drug traffickers. Some Defense officials have labeled the act an attack on civilians. While many details remain murky, one thing is clear: the Trump administration is labeling people as “terrorists” to justify unilaterally murdering people.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) condemned “killing someone without a trial,” while other Senators raised concerns about facing retaliation for the Trump administration’s potential war crimes. Lawmakers must publicly investigate this attack and condemn the administration’s ongoing abuses of power and lawless violence.