The Trump administration has resumed its controversial campaign of boat strikes targeting alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, reigniting scrutiny from critics who have questioned the legality and effectiveness of the operations. The campaign, previously known as Operation Southern Spear and now operating as Operation Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere, was paused for two months.
Sources familiar with a secret Justice Department memo indicate it provides the president with broad constitutional authority to order such attacks in the national interest. This memo reportedly characterizes the vessels themselves as lawful military targets, allowing for expected casualties as a non-lethal option is deemed impossible. The administration has publicly stated these strikes target "narcoterrorists."
However, critics argue the campaign violates U.S. laws and has failed to meaningfully reduce drug trafficking. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, has sent letters to the administration, stating the campaign is "illegal and ineffective" and legally imperils U.S. servicemembers. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., expressed hope that the pause signaled a reconsideration of the campaign's effectiveness in stemming drug flow, but the recent strikes indicate otherwise.
President Trump has claimed, without evidence, that the strikes have reduced drug flow by 98%, a figure the White House attributes to Customs and Border Patrol's fentanyl seizure statistics. Critics dismiss this metric, noting that the targeted smugglers often traffic other drugs, such as cocaine. Furthermore, the Inspector General's report indicated that fentanyl is not among the targets of the boat strike campaign, as it is neither produced nor trafficked in the operation's area of responsibility.
Legal Justifications and Criticisms
The administration's reliance on the secret Justice Department memo has drawn criticism. Brian Finucane, a former State Department attorney-adviser, described the memo as a "permission slip" and a "get-of-jail-free card" that shields personnel from criminal prosecution. Sen. Kaine, who has reviewed the memo and campaign documents, stated that intelligence on strike targets does not require positive identification of individuals or the presence of narcotics. He believes some targeted individuals were not involved in drug trafficking and were "murder victims."
U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations, stated that the new operation is an evolution of efforts to target illicit drug movement. Marine Corps General Francis Donovan, commander of Southern Command, has described the goal as "taking the fight to the enemy." However, Donovan has also acknowledged the limitations of kinetic strikes, calling them "one of the many tools, and probably not the most effective tool" in counternarcotics missions. He noted that he could not provide measures of effectiveness for the campaign's impact on cartel operations when pressed by Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.
Impact and Adaptations by Smugglers
Concerns persist regarding the campaign's impact on drug influx into the U.S. The Pentagon's internal watchdog reported that Southern Command could not provide a publicly releasable measure for the campaign's effectiveness. Drug cartels have reportedly adapted by utilizing unmanned semisubmersibles and new smuggling routes closer to land borders to avoid international waters where they could be targeted.
Lawsuits and Civilian Casualties
The campaign has also led to legal challenges. Relatives of Chad Joseph and Rishi Somaroo, Trinidadian nationals killed in an October 2025 strike, filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit alleging violations of domestic and international law. According to their families, Joseph and Somaroo were working-class individuals traveling for fishing and agricultural labor. The Trump administration has moved to dismiss this lawsuit, citing a lack of federal court jurisdiction.
Similarly, the family of a Colombian fisherman killed in a September strike filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, alleging unlawful killing. The White House maintains that all strikes have been against designated narcoterrorists.