Over the last few months, the Trump regime has orchestrated the bombings of small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific that it claims are trafficking drugs bound for the US. They’ve provided no legal justification for these bombings, which have now killed over 80 people in total.
In at least one of these strikes, Hegseth ordered troops to leave no survivors. Compliance with this order required a special operations commander to launch a second strike on two civilians who survived the initial attack. This command — known as a “no quarter order” — likely constitutes a war crime.
However, the civilians on those boats were not engaged in any armed conflict with the United States. They posed no imminent threat. As former military lawyer Todd Huntley put it, because there is no legitimate war between the U.S. and these alleged traffickers, killing them literally amounts to murder.
If Congress does not put a check on this regime’s lawless violence, there’s no telling where this will end. Hegseth could label anyone a legitimate target and order the military to carry out strikes without legal justification or even evidence of wrongdoing.
Every Representative and Senator, especially those on the Arms Service committee, must demand an immediate, public investigation into these killings and the orders behind them.
The email to your members of Congress:
Dear Senator/Representative,
As a constituent, I’m deeply alarmed by the U.S. bombings of small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. For months, the Trump administration has ordered these strikes under the vague claim that the vessels “intended” to traffic drugs into the United States. More than 80 people have now been killed, and the administration has provided zero legal justification for any of these actions.
Reports show that Secretary Pete Hegseth personally oversaw the killing of civilians. His “no quarter” order is explicitly illegal under both U.S. and international law. The people on those boats were not engaged in any armed conflict with the United States, and they posed no imminent threat.
Instead of confronting this, the administration is trying to spin these killings as a public-health measure that “saves Americans from overdoses.” Instigating unauthorized violence and using U.S. resources to carry out unlawful killings does not keep families safe. It does not prevent overdoses. It does not serve any legitimate national interest. It simply drags the United States into lawless, open-ended violence with no accountability and no public benefit.
This administration will continue to claim broad authority to label anyone a target and order lethal force without evidence, oversight, or legal basis unless you act.
I am urging you to demand an immediate, public investigation into these killings, the chain of command behind them, and the legal justifications the administration claims to rely on. Members of the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees, in particular, have a responsibility to act urgently.
I look forward to your response and to your leadership on this.