Trump & Hegseth’s illegal boat strikes have now killed more than 200 people

Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth’s illegal boat strikes have now killed more than 200 people off the coasts of South America, but we haven’t forgotten — and we refuse to stay silent.

200 deaths mark a grim milestone in an illegal campaign that has slipped under the radar while the Administration distracts by proliferating more violence elsewhere.

The campaign has been shrouded in secrecy from the start, and the administration has done little to explain who it is targeting in these indiscriminate attacks. One human rights expert recently told The Intercept, “my guess is that the U.S. military has no idea who these people actually are before moving to kill them.”[1]

In one particularly concerning case, Rear Adm. Brian H. Bennett, a military officer who’s overseen Special Operations for the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, admitted the eleven casualties of one September 2025 strike “could be” victims of human trafficking.

Lawmakers have the power to act and stop these strikes. But they’re unlikely to if they think people like you and groups like ours aren’t paying attention, or worse, that we don’t care. That’s why we need to get loud today.

Tell Congress: Stop Trump and Hegseth’s illegal boat strikes! No more taxpayer dollars for extrajudicial killings.

Whether it’s strikes in Mexico or murders off the coast of Venezuela, the Trump administration’s failed “war on drugs” has raised alarms at every turn.

Congress pressed Hegseth over his role in a September 2, 2025 strike, where two survivors clinging to wreckage after an initial strike were killed by a “double tap” strike order that violates U.S. and international law. Rep. Jim Himes called the footage “one of the most troubling scenes I’ve ever seen in my time in public service.”

Even those involved in the operations are asking questions. Steve Woolford, a resource counselor with the GI Rights Hotline, has spoken to four servicemembers who were seeking legal and ethical guidance over their roles in the strikes. "I think this is exactly what was described as a war crime," he recalled being told.[2]

For months, at least 60 strikes have instilled grave fear across South American coastal communities. “We were terrified they were going to kill us,” said one Ecuadorian fisherman, who was held at gunpoint after his vessel was attacked. The 200th killing in this reckless campaign is as unjustified, unnecessary, and illegal as the 1st. Congress must step in. Now.

Whether by passing a war powers resolution to prevent further strikes or refusing to fund a $1.5 trillion war budget that enables Trump’s violence, lawmakers have the power to end this unauthorized killing spree for good. Together, this coalition of activists and organizations, hundreds of thousands strong, will pressure them to leverage it.

Send a message to your members of Congress today demanding they take action to end Trump and Hegseth’s murder campaign in the waters off of South America.

Thank you for working for peace,
The Win Without War team

1. The Intercept, "Top Pentagon Official Admits Boat Strike May Have Killed Victims of Human Trafficking"
2. USA Today, "US boat strikes killed over 200 people. Service members have questions"