Following the initial deadly U.S. boat strike near Venezuela in September, Chad Joseph made a reassuring call to his wife confirming his safety. However, tragically, Joseph, a 26-year-old Trinidadian father of three, was among the victims of a subsequent strike a month later.
Joseph, who frequently worked as a farm laborer and fisherman in Venezuela, along with his colleague Rishi Samaroo, 41, were reportedly two of the six individuals killed in the U.S. airstrike on October 14, 2025, targeting a vessel in the Caribbean Sea en route to Trinidad and Tobago.
The families of both men have initiated legal action against the U.S. government for wrongful death. ACLU lawyer Jeffrey Stein, representing the families, asserted that these killings were premeditated and intentional acts outside of wartime, constituting murder.
Asserting the real human impact of these incidents, Stein emphasized the pursuit of justice for the affected families.
Legal Action and Casualties
The ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lenore Burnley, Joseph’s mother, and Sallycar Korasingh, Samaroo’s sister. This lawsuit marks the first legal challenge against the Trump administration for the 36 fatal boat strikes conducted in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, resulting in at least 126 fatalities.
The U.S. government has labeled the victims as “narco-terrorists,” justifying its actions as necessary measures against drug-related threats. However, the families of Joseph and Samaroo contest this narrative, emphasizing that the deceased were ordinary workers returning home.
Victims’ Profiles
Joseph, known for his dedication to providing for his family, regularly engaged in fishing and agricultural work in Venezuela, supporting his loved ones in Las Cuevas. His final weeks were marked by concerns over the U.S. military strikes, yet he remained determined to reunite with his family.
Samaroo, who had been working on a farm in Venezuela, sought to return home to care for his ailing mother. His family highlights that he was not involved in any criminal activities and should have been apprehended if suspected of wrongdoing, rather than subjected to lethal force.
Challenging the Justification
The U.S. administration has justified these strikes as part of a campaign against drug cartels, citing compliance with international laws of war. However, legal experts like Stein argue that these actions lack legal merit, as there is no armed conflict between the U.S. and Latin American drug groups warranting such lethal responses.
Luis Moreno Ocampo, a prominent legal figure, has condemned the killings, emphasizing that drug trafficking is a criminal issue, not an act of war. The lawsuit seeks damages for the deaths of Joseph and Samaroo, aiming to challenge the legality and halt further deadly operations.