FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 29, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Caribbean Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued the following statement:

“In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Trump Administration’s unilateral and unlawful military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. No matter how desperately Donald Trump wishes it weren’t, the United States is still a nation of laws – its own, and those of the world. These strikes, and the president’s policy of “kill first, ask questions never,” that undergirds them, are an affront to both. 

“Every American knows how dire the drug and opioid crisis is. Every American recognizes how deeply action is needed to defeat it. However, when the Trump Administration continues to reassign federal agents away from their work on this crisis and toward a sickening anti-immigrant American crusade, and when it has repeatedly cut congressionally approved funding for proven drug prevention and treatment programs, the depths of Donald Trump’s disinterest in truly solving the issue at hand becomes abundantly clear. As does the true purpose of these attacks, which is seemingly only to demonstrate the Trump Administration’s power for violence to our allies and adversaries alike. Enough is enough. 

“Before more innocent lives are taken beyond those which likely already have been, before more maimed remains of those Donald Trump extrajudicially bombed wash upon the shores of our Caribbean neighbors, and before more of America’s friends are alienated in the name of intimidating our rivals, these strikes must end. And the American people must receive answers to the many questions they have had since the strikes began.”

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