The families of Trinidadian fishermen who lost their lives in a U.S. boat strike off the coast of Venezuela are taking legal action against the U.S. government. Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo were among the six men killed in the October 14, 2025 airstrike in the Caribbean Sea. Represented by ACLU lawyer Jeffrey Stein, the families are suing for wrongful death, stating that the killings were intentional and outside the context of war.
The lawsuit, filed by the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of the victims’ families, is the first challenge against the Trump administration’s 36 deadly boat strikes in the region, resulting in at least 126 deaths. The U.S. government has labeled the victims as “narco-terrorists,” but the families assert that Joseph and Samaroo were innocent workers heading home to Trinidad and Tobago.
Joseph, a father of three, worked in Venezuela as a farmhand and fisherman, while Samaroo, who had previously been involved in a legal issue, was caring for animals on a farm in Venezuela. Both men were on their way back home when they were killed in the airstrike. The families emphasize that the victims were not involved in any illegal activities and demand accountability for the deaths.
The Trump administration justifies the strikes as part of a war on drug cartels, claiming compliance with international laws of war. However, legal experts argue that these actions are unlawful and constitute crimes against humanity. The lawsuit seeks damages from the U.S. government for the deaths of Joseph and Samaroo and aims to challenge the legality of the ongoing deadly strikes.