ACLU files lawsuit seeking legal basis for Trump’s Caribbean boat strikes

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Brian OsgoodDecember 9, 2025 at 09:45 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The ACLU and other rights groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the Trump administration, seeking the release of a legal opinion justifying boat strikes in the Caribbean. The lawsuit targets the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), demanding transparency on the legal basis for these strikes, which the administration claims are counter-narcotics efforts. Since September, 22 strikes have occurred, resulting in at least 86 deaths. Critics argue these strikes, conducted off Latin America, are illegal under international and US law, as drug trafficking is a criminal activity, not an act of war. The groups believe the OLC opinion rationalizes the strikes as lawful acts within an "armed conflict" with drug cartels.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Donald Trump ×4100% American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ×2100% United States ×3100%

Keywords

boat strikes 100% drug trafficking 80% legal basis 70% lawsuit 70% office of legal counsel (olc) 60% aclu 60% caribbean 50% armed conflict 40% international law 40%