The families of two Trinidadian nationals who lost their lives in a US missile strike in October have sued the US government for wrongful death and extrajudicial killing. This comes after a missile strike targeting a civilian vessel in the Caribbean resulted in the deaths of Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, along with four other people.
This particular strike is part of at least 36 missile strikes carried out by the Trump administration against civilian vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans. Since September 2025, at least 125 people have been killed in these missions.
What Happened During the October 14 Boat Strike?
On October 14, Joseph and Samaroo were traveling home from Venezuela to Las Cuevas, Trinidad and Tobago, when their boat was struck by a US missile. The attack occurred in international waters, and none of the passengers were reportedly engaged in illegal activity. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Lenore Burnley, Joseph’s mother, and Sallycar Korasingh, Samaroo’s sister, who are acting on behalf of surviving family members.
Who Were Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo?
Chad Joseph was an intensive family man, living in Las Cuevas with his wife and three children. He traveled to Venezuela for fishing and agricultural work to support his family. Two days prior to his death, he called his wife to inform her that he had managed to get a boat ride back home.
Rishi Samaroo was a Trinidad and Tobago national from El Soccorro, where his family still lives. He had served a 15-year sentence for his involvement in a homicide case. He was released on parole in 2024 and involved in fishing and construction. However, in 2025, he relocated to Venezuela for agricultural work, where he regularly called his family and financially supported them.
What Are the Families Saying?
“Chad was a loving and caring son who was always there for me, for his wife and children, and for our whole family,”
said Lenore Burnley.
“We know this lawsuit won’t bring Chad back, but we hope speaking out will help get us some truth and closure.”
Sallycar Korasingh described her brother as a hardworking man trying to rebuild his life. “If the US government believed Rishi had done anything wrong, it should have arrested, charged, and detained him—not murdered him,” she said.
On What Legal Grounds Is the Lawsuit Based?
The families are suing under two federal statutes: the Death on the High Seas Act, which allows families to seek damages for wrongful deaths occurring in international waters, and the Alien Tort Statute, which enables foreign nationals to bring claims in US courts for violations of established international human rights norms.
The lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts, where federal courts have longstanding jurisdiction over admiralty cases.
Why Do Lawyers Say the Boat Strikes Are Illegal?
Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Seton Hall Law School, and the ACLU of Massachusetts argue that the strikes are “manifestly unlawful.”
They reject US government claims that the country is engaged in an armed conflict justifying military force. Even if such a conflict existed, lawyers argue, the strikes would still violate the laws of war, which prohibit indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian vessels.
How Has the Trump Administration Responded?
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly boasted about the strikes and released videos of the operations, including footage of the attack that killed Joseph and Samaroo.
Despite this, victims have remained largely anonymous, reduced to indistinct figures on military screens. Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Minister, Sean Sobers, stated after the strike that authorities had no information linking either Joseph or Samaroo to illegal activities.
Are These Killings Considered Extrajudicial?
Legal experts involved in the case argue that the killings amount to extrajudicial executions.
“It is absurd and dangerous for any state to unilaterally declare a ‘war’ to justify lethal force,”
said Baher Azmy of the Center for Constitutional Rights, calling the strikes “lawless killings in cold blood.”
Professor Jonathan Hafetz warned that such actions violate basic principles of international law and risk turning the United States into a global pariah.
What Do Human Rights Advocates Say Is at Stake?
Human rights organizations argue the case is about far more than a single incident.
“The administration’s lethal boat strikes violate our collective understanding of right and wrong,”
said Jessie Rossman of the ACLU of Massachusetts.
“Rishi and Chad wanted only to get home safely to their loved ones.”
Lawyers involved say accountability is essential not only for the victims’ families but also to uphold the rule of law and prevent further civilian deaths.
The lawsuit seeks to establish the illegality of the US boat strike program and hold officials accountable for the deaths of Joseph and Samaroo. Attorneys argue that a court ruling could set a critical precedent limiting the use of military force against civilians outside recognized armed conflicts and reinforcing international human rights protections.