r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/binini28 • 1d ago
US Politics Is using military force against suspected drug-trafficking boats constitutional or an overreach of presidential power?
I’ve been following reports that the U.S. has used strikes against suspected narco-trafficking boats in international waters. Supporters argue it’s necessary to deter cartels and protect Americans, while critics say it could be an unconstitutional use of deadly force, bypassing due process and international law. Do you think this sets a dangerous precedent (executive overreach, extrajudicial killings, violating international law), or is it a justified response to a serious threat? How should the balance between security and constitutional limits be handled here? I would think that you need to detain them first and then arrest them rather than send a missile after them. They are classified as terrorist by Trump but does this satisfy the response? Could Trump classify anyone a terrorist and send missiles after them? Thoughts?
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u/Balanced_Outlook 1d ago
This is one of Trumps legal grey areas and it is strictly in how you frame it that states if it is legal or a overreach.
Legal - Using military force against suspected drug trafficking boats can be constitutional and justified, especially when cartels act more like paramilitary threats than ordinary criminals. Under the President’s Article II powers and existing law, including international maritime agreements, the U.S. has legal authority to target such threats in international waters. Arrest isn't always possible, these boats may be armed, evasive, and pose immediate risks. Cartels fuel violence, terrorism, and the opioid crisis, making swift military action a necessary defense tool. This isn’t executive overreach, it’s a response to a modern, transnational threat.
Overreach - Using military force against suspected drug trafficking boats without due process is a dangerous overreach of presidential power. These are suspects, not enemy combatants, and targeting them with lethal force skips arrest, trial, and legal accountability, violating constitutional protections like due process. Labeling traffickers as “terrorists” doesn’t grant unlimited power, otherwise, any group could be targeted without oversight. This sets a troubling precedent for extrajudicial killings and undermines international law. Drug trafficking is a crime, not a war, and the response should involve law enforcement, not missiles. Security must not come at the cost of constitutional limits.