U.S. seeks dismissal of lawsuit over deadly boat strikes

The U.S. government moved Friday to dismiss a lawsuit brought by families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. military boat strike, arguing the federal court lacks jurisdiction without addressing whether the killings were lawful.

The lawsuit, filed in January in federal court in Boston, stems from an Oct. 14, 2025, strike that killed Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo as they traveled by boat from Venezuela to their homes in Trinidad.

U.S. Southern Command has reported at least 200 people killed in 62 strikes against suspected drug boats since the strikes began in September 2025.

In its motion to dismiss, the Justice Department argued the case should be thrown out on procedural grounds. Government lawyers said the families filed in the wrong court, lack standing because they have not been formally appointed as representatives of the men’s estates and relied on the wrong statute in bringing their claims.

The filing does not address the legality of the strike itself. If the case is dismissed, a court may never...