The Trump administration is blowing up boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, deliberately killing people outside of war, in an illegal use of military force. They claim this is to combat drug trafficking. This is an ineffective solution to a complex, systematic problem. Drug trafficking is a crime to be addressed with due process through the legal system—not summary execution on the high seas.
The Senate has voted twice on War Powers Resolutions to end these unlawful actions. Both votes failed. The good news is that members of Congress across the political spectrum are increasingly speaking up and raising concerns.
In the House, two War Powers Resolutions are gaining traction: H.Con.Res.51, led by Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5), and H.Res.126, led by Rep. Jason Crow (CO-6).
Public opinion research shows that the American people consistently oppose presidents using military force without the consent of Congress. That’s where we all have a role to play: raising awareness in local media and putting pressure on legislators to stop the administration’s illegal and immoral military escalations.