1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

CONGRESS MUST INVESTIGATE THE LEGALITY OF U.S. BOAT STRIKES As your constituent, I urge you to oppose ongoing U.S. military boat strikes and affirm that lethal force requires lawful authority. Drug trafficking is serious, but it must be addressed lawfully. LETHAL FORCE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES DEMANDS CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY Reporting indicates that since September, U.S. forces have carried out dozens of boat strikes, killing more than 180 people. Human Rights Watch reported that by March 25 there had already been 47 strikes and 163 deaths. The April 24 strike killed two people. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT SHOWN CLEAR EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY THESE STRIKES The administration has used the term “narco-terrorists” and described those killed as suspected traffickers. Reporting states that the government has not shown clear evidence that the boats carried drugs, that those killed were traffickers, or that they posed an imminent threat. The administration has asserted that some vessels traveled along “known narco-trafficking routes” and were engaged in trafficking, but reporting says it has not shown clear evidence supporting those claims. LEGAL EXPERTS WARN THESE STRIKES MAY VIOLATE THE LAW Legal experts warn that lethal force outside armed conflict is lawful only in narrow circumstances. Human Rights Watch says these strikes may be unlawful uses of lethal force outside a recognized armed conflict. Multiple legal experts and human rights organizations say the policy may violate domestic and international law. These actions raise serious questions under the law of armed conflict and legal risk for U.S. personnel. CONGRESS MUST ENFORCE LEGAL LIMITS ON THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE Congress cannot wait for more deaths. It must determine whether these strikes comply with the War Powers Resolution, due process, human rights law, and the law of armed conflict. The military cannot lawfully kill people merely because they are suspected of criminal activity. Even in armed conflict, lethal targeting requires a lawful military target, a lawful military purpose, and compliance with the law of armed conflict. Because these standards define when lethal force is lawful, clear legal limits also protect U.S. service members by ensuring they are not ordered to carry out operations that fall outside those standards. I urge you to: (1) Speak out and affirm that U.S. military operations must comply with the Constitution, federal law, and international law. (2) Hold public oversight hearings to examine legality, evidence, targeting, casualties, rules of engagement, and chain of command. (3) Require release of legal opinions, factual basis, and rules used to justify these strikes. (4) Enact strict laws prohibiting lethal military force against suspected criminal actors at sea unless Congress has authorized such action, and ensure that any use of force complies with the Constitution and the law of armed conflict. Thank you.