'Blizzard of illegality': Ex-DHS Official calls out Trump admin over boat strikes

Legal and Ethical Concerns - The White House is defending the strike, asserting it falls within the president's legal authority, but lawmakers from both parties are seeking more detailed legal justification and information [1] - Concerns arise that the strikes may be illegal, particularly the second strike, as the targets were not enemy combatants but criminals who should have been arrested [1] - A former Homeland Security Chief of Staff stated that in 2018, the White House was informed that blowing up boats with migrants or unarmed combatants is illegal under international law [1] - The administration claims the strike was conducted in self-defense to protect US interests, but questions remain about whether the law of armed conflict applies, as it may not be an armed conflict [4][6] - Legal experts suggest that if the law of armed conflict doesn't apply, targeting individuals on the boat could lead to murder charges under federal law [6] - Even if the administration claims a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels, shipwrecked individuals are entitled to special protection and should not be targeted [7] Investigation and Accountability - Congress is seeking more information, including videos and communications, to determine who gave the order for the strikes and under what legal authority [1] - The House Armed Services Committee expects Admiral Bradley to provide answers regarding the order and the legal basis for the operation [1] - Secretary Hegsth allegedly watched the video feed of the strikes and ordered that there be no survivors, raising questions about his responsibility [2] - Senator Mark Kelly suggests the Pentagon may be looking for a scapegoat and points out that Secretary Hegsth was present and watching the operation live [11][12] - There are concerns that the administration is engaged in a "blizzard of illegality," potentially exposing federal employees and US service members to illegal orders [16] Operational Changes and Protocols - Protocols seem to have changed during the boat strike campaign, as subsequent strikes resulted in survivors being rescued [8] - Congressional oversight is needed to determine what protocols existed for the first strike and what led to the change in approach [9][10]