Following a fatal U.S. boat strike off the Venezuelan coast last September, Chad Joseph reassured his wife that he was not aboard. However, a month later, the Trinidadian father of three lost his life in another strike.
Joseph, aged 26, frequently worked in Venezuela as a farm laborer and fisherman. Alongside his colleague, Rishi Samaroo, 41, they were among the victims of a U.S. airstrike on October 14, 2025, targeting a small vessel in the Caribbean Sea en route to Trinidad and Tobago.
Subsequently, the families of both men have initiated legal action against the U.S. government for wrongful death.
According to Jeffrey Stein, a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representing the families, the killings were deliberate acts outside of wartime, amounting to murder.
The lawsuit, brought forth by the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of Lenore Burnley and Sallycar Korasingh, seeks accountability for the deaths caused by the 36 boat strikes conducted by the U.S. government under President Donald Trump’s administration, resulting in at least 126 casualties.
The U.S. government has labeled the deceased individuals as “narco-terrorists,” justifying the lethal actions as part of combating illicit drug activities. However, the families of Joseph and Samaroo refute these allegations, stating that the victims were innocent workers.
Joseph, known for his dedication to supporting his family through fishing and farm work in Venezuela, was described by his mother as a compassionate son who prioritized his family and friends.
Meanwhile, Samaroo, who had been working on a farm in Venezuela, decided to return home to care for his ailing mother. Before his tragic demise, he informed his sister of his journey back home.
Despite the Trinidadian government’s support for the U.S. strikes, the lawsuit emphasizes the lack of evidence linking the victims to illegal activities, challenging the legality of the lethal strikes.
Anti-drug Campaign
The Trump administration, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directives, has portrayed the strikes as part of a campaign against drug cartels, alleging the victims’ affiliation with armed groups.
However, according to Stein, these justifications do not align with legal standards, as there is no armed conflict between the U.S. and Latin American drug cartels warranting lethal force against civilians.
Luis Moreno Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has criticized the lethal actions against alleged drug traffickers, highlighting the civilian status of the victims.
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