Day 226
September 2, 2025
6 incidents
- International Crime (Rome Statute) Extrajudicial Killing
Operation Southern Spear: Lethal Drone Strikes on Caribbean and Pacific Drug Boats
Since September 2, 2025, the US military has conducted at least 69 strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean under Operation Southern Spear, killing at least 231 people by CBS News' count as of September 2026. The very first strike included a 'double tap' follow-up attack that killed shipwrecked survivors clinging to wreckage.
- Serious Rights Violation Deportation & Immigration
Judge issues broader TRO blocking all Guatemalan child deportations
Judge Sooknanan issues a broader temporary restraining order blocking deportation of all unaccompanied Guatemalan children in US custody who do not have deportation orders, covering the nearly 700 children the government had planned to remove.
From: Midnight Deportation of 76 Guatemalan Children: Labor Day Weekend Mass Removal Attempt
- Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Deportation & Immigration
Fifth Circuit blocks use of Alien Enemies Act
In a 2-1 ruling, the Fifth Circuit rejected the argument that immigration constitutes an 'invasion' under the Act, stating the findings 'do not support that an invasion or a predatory incursion has occurred.'
From: Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations
- Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Foreign Policy & War
Caribbean drug boat strikes begin
The first in a series of lethal strikes on suspected drug boats began, killing at least 95 people by December 2025 with no civilian harm review mechanisms in place.
From: Dismantlement of Pentagon Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Program
- Major Abuse of Power Military Overreach
Federal court finds 'willful' Posse Comitatus violation in Los Angeles
In the case over the Los Angeles deployment, Judge Charles Breyer ruled the administration 'willfully' violated the Posse Comitatus Act through 'a top-down, systemic effort to use military troops to execute various sectors of federal law.'
From: Military Deployments at the US-Mexico Border and the Posse Comitatus Act
- Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Federal Dismantlement
Remaining USAID employees separated
The final wave of forced separations took effect. Residual functions were nominally transferred to the State Department, though the institutional capacity to manage global development programs had been effectively destroyed.
From: Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences