Stop the Unauthorized US War on Venezuelan Cartels

Reject an Unauthorized War on Cartels I urge you to oppose the administration’s executive order purportedly giving new powers to target drug cartels as terrorist organizations. This is a dangerous attempt at expansion of presidential authority. The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war. By treating cartels as wartime enemies, the President is attempting to bypass both the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Condemn Killings at Sea Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth admitted to ordering a strike on a small boat “just off the coast of Venezuela” that killed four people. He said the vessel carried “substantial amounts” of narcotics but gave no proof or names. The strike, ordered “on President Trump’s orders” in international waters, is one of several deadly operations. Across four assaults, 21 people have been killed. The government has released no names and shown no proof they were traffickers. Without due process, these deaths look like extrajudicial killings and raise serious legal questions. The Shift to ‘Armed Conflict’ The executive order did not declare war with cartels. Later the White House told Congress these operations fall under the law of armed conflict, claiming the U.S. is in a non-international armed conflict (NIAC) with cartels. This is unprecedented. Cartels are criminals, not insurgent armies. Recasting law enforcement as “armed conflict” lets the executive claim wartime powers without Congress, attempting to bypass oversight. Congress Must Restore Its Role Congress cannot remain silent. I urge you to: • Denounce the executive order and maritime killings. • Pass legislation barring military action against cartels without a specific Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). • Cut off funding for operations under this order. • Require reports on each mission: number killed, evidence, rationale. • Demand disclosure of all legal opinions and memoranda. Hold Oversight Hearings Immediately Congress should hold hearings with officials from the White House, Pentagon, DOJ, and State. These hearings must ask: • What authority justifies reclassifying cartel enforcement as armed conflict? • Who approved the rules of engagement? • Were civilians among the dead? • What safeguards exist to prevent abuses? Congress should subpoena memos, video, after-action reports to ensure accountability. Defend Human Rights and the Rule of Law Cartels are criminals, not sovereign states. They should be fought through law enforcement and international cooperation — not unilateral declarations of war. Allowing one person to wage war without Congress erodes checks and balances. Allowing killings at sea without evidence undermines human rights and international law. Your Leadership Is Needed Please take the lead in restoring legality, protecting lives, and defending the Constitution. If Congress does not act, this overreach could become permanent and set dangerous precedents.