BREAKING: US considering releasing survivors of Caribbean drug boat strike to their home countries
CNN reports:
“ The Trump administration is considering releasing the two survivors of Thursday’s military strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean to their home countries, two US officials told CNN.
Administration officials were scrambling on Friday and Saturday morning to determine what to do with the individuals, who are the first known survivors of the six US military strikes carried out in the Caribbean since September.
The US military detained the survivors after the strike Thursday, marking the first time the Trump administration’s campaign targeting drug traffickers has resulted in the US holding prisoners.
Thursday’s strike was the sixth known strike on a boat allegedly involved in drug trafficking. It came as the US has deployed scores of military assets to the Caribbean as promises further strikes on alleged drug boats, part of the administration’s effort to drive down drug flow into the US and pressure Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s authoritarian president.
President Donald Trump did not address the status of the detainees at the White House on Friday, but said, “Just so you understand this was not an innocent group of people.”
The situation was potentially going to set up a legal and policy dilemma for the administration because it was unclear under what legal authority the US military can hold the prisoners, Brian Finucane, a former State Department lawyer who specializes in war powers issues, previously told CNN.
One of the sources told CNN the legally dubious situation is why the administration is considering releasing the individuals from US military custody.
The situation comes as legality of the Trump administration’s operations in the Caribbean has been widely questioned.
The administration has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, CNN has reported.
Historically, however, those involved in drug trafficking were considered criminals with due process rights, with the Coast Guard interdicting drug-trafficking vessels and arresting smugglers.
The Trump administration has also argued that the president has broad authorities under Article II of the Constitution to conduct the strikes against what it claims are “narco-terrorists,” but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have questioned that theory. Congress, which maintains broad authority under Article I of the Constitution to declare war, has not authorized an armed conflict against drug traffickers.
This story has been updated with additional information.”
“ The Trump administration is considering releasing the two survivors of Thursday’s military strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean to their home countries, two US officials told CNN.
Administration officials were scrambling on Friday and Saturday morning to determine what to do with the individuals, who are the first known survivors of the six US military strikes carried out in the Caribbean since September.
The US military detained the survivors after the strike Thursday, marking the first time the Trump administration’s campaign targeting drug traffickers has resulted in the US holding prisoners.
Thursday’s strike was the sixth known strike on a boat allegedly involved in drug trafficking. It came as the US has deployed scores of military assets to the Caribbean as promises further strikes on alleged drug boats, part of the administration’s effort to drive down drug flow into the US and pressure Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s authoritarian president.
President Donald Trump did not address the status of the detainees at the White House on Friday, but said, “Just so you understand this was not an innocent group of people.”
The situation was potentially going to set up a legal and policy dilemma for the administration because it was unclear under what legal authority the US military can hold the prisoners, Brian Finucane, a former State Department lawyer who specializes in war powers issues, previously told CNN.
One of the sources told CNN the legally dubious situation is why the administration is considering releasing the individuals from US military custody.
The situation comes as legality of the Trump administration’s operations in the Caribbean has been widely questioned.
The administration has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, CNN has reported.
Historically, however, those involved in drug trafficking were considered criminals with due process rights, with the Coast Guard interdicting drug-trafficking vessels and arresting smugglers.
The Trump administration has also argued that the president has broad authorities under Article II of the Constitution to conduct the strikes against what it claims are “narco-terrorists,” but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have questioned that theory. Congress, which maintains broad authority under Article I of the Constitution to declare war, has not authorized an armed conflict against drug traffickers.
This story has been updated with additional information.”
