Family members of two Trinidadian men, Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, are taking legal action against the U.S. government. They claim wrongful death after the men were killed in a U.S. military strike on October 14 while traveling from Venezuela to Trinidad. The lawsuit is unique, as it’s the first filed against the Trump administration’s military campaign targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean.
According to the family, Joseph and Samaroo were fishermen returning home following work in Venezuela. The strike hit their boat without prior notification to their families. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that all six individuals on the boat were “narcoterrorists,” part of a larger military effort that has reportedly killed around 125 people in similar strikes.
The lawsuit, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal experts, argues that the U.S. violated federal laws, including the Death on the High Seas Act. This act allows lawsuits over wrongful deaths occurring more than three nautical miles from the U.S. They also cite the Alien Tort Statute, which permits foreign nationals to sue in federal court over international law violations.
The Trump administration has declared that the U.S. is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels, allowing for military strikes. However, the lawsuit disputes this claim, asserting that there hasn’t been a legitimate armed conflict, making the strikes unjustifiable. The legal team argues that the strikes are merely murders carried out by those at the top levels of government.
Notably, the Trinidadian government has stated they have no evidence linking either man to any illegal activities. Joseph, the breadwinner for his family, lived with his partner and three young children in Trinidad and frequently traveled for work. His last call to his family was on October 12, just two days before the tragic strike.
Samaroo, who worked in construction, had also been trying to support his family after a difficult past. His sister shared that he was active and connected with the family up until his disappearance following the strike.
These tragic losses highlight broader issues of accountability in military actions abroad. As family members mourn their loved ones, they seek not just justice for Chad and Rishi but also to shed light on the complexities surrounding U.S. military operations in regions like the Caribbean.
For further reading on the legal framework surrounding such issues, check the American Civil Liberties Union and ongoing discussions in legal journals on military actions abroad.
