Story perspectives

Families Sue U.S. Over Deadly Missile Strike on Fishermen

1/29/2026

Center

Families Sue U.S.

Family members of Trinidadian men Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government.
They allege that on October 14, a missile strike off Venezuela killed the men returning from fishing.
The suit cites the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute, arguing no justification for the strike.
It is the first federal challenge to President Donald Trump's Caribbean military actions.

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Trump Administration Faces Lawsuits

A federal judge ruled that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration unlawfully withheld $62 million in EV infrastructure funds from Wisconsin, allowing the state to retain funds for charging.
Families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. missile strike filed a wrongful death lawsuit, accusing the administration of extrajudicial killings.
The administration requested a pause in a lawsuit over mifepristone, a medication used in abortions, which could restrict nationwide access.

History

Historical Context

The Death on the High Seas Act, enacted in 1920, allows families to seek damages for wrongful deaths at sea. This law is now central to a lawsuit involving Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, who were killed by a missile strike off Venezuela. Their case raises questions about U.S. military actions in the Caribbean, reflecting ongoing debates about accountability in military operations.

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Families Sue U.S.

Family members of Trinidadian men Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government.
They allege that on October 14, a missile strike off Venezuela killed the men returning from fishing.
The suit cites the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute, arguing no justification for the strike.
It is the first federal challenge to President Donald Trump's Caribbean military actions.

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