US rights groups have filed a lawsuit demanding clarity on the legal justification for the Trump administration’s controversial strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), its New York affiliate (NYCLU), and the Center for Constitutional Rights submitted the lawsuit on Tuesday, seeking the release of an Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion that reportedly underpins the administration’s actions.

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Groups Question Lawfulness of Strikes

Jeffrey Stein, an attorney with the ACLU’s National Security Project, called the strikes “illegal and immoral” and demanded accountability for officials responsible.

“The public deserves to know how our government is justifying the cold-blooded murder of civilians as lawful,” Stein said.

At least 86 people have died in the strikes since early September, with 22 attacks carried out so far. Critics argue that these operations are illegal under both international law and US domestic law, as drug trafficking is a criminal offense, not an act of war.

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FOIA Requests Ignored

The lawsuit comes after the State Department, Department of Defense, and OLC allegedly failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request regarding the legal rationale. NYCLU attorney Ify Chikezie told Al Jazeera that the government is evading public scrutiny.

“We believe the public has the right to see the document justifying the administration’s strikes,” Chikezie said.

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Experts Challenge Administration’s Claims

Legal experts widely reject the Trump administration’s claim that drug cartels constitute an armed attack on the US, making traffickers “unlawful combatants.” Critics maintain the strikes target ordinary civilians involved in criminal activity.

“The administration seems to be making up the idea that we are at war with someone somewhere,” Chikezie said.

Analysts also note that the strikes have minimal effect on overall drug flows, casting doubt on their stated counter-narcotics objectives.

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Regional Tensions Rise

The operations coincide with heightened US pressure on Venezuela. President Trump has accused Nicolás Maduro of supporting criminal groups, though internal US intelligence reportedly questions this claim.

The US has deployed an aircraft carrier and thousands of troops to the Caribbean, prompting speculation about a possible military escalation against Venezuela.