On September 2, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized a military strike against a vessel off the coast of Trinidad, purportedly linked to drug trafficking. Following the initial attack, reports indicate that two survivors were killed in a subsequent strike, raising significant legal and ethical questions regarding the operation. Critics have labeled this action a potential war crime due to the absence of congressional authorization and the use of indiscriminate violence against individuals who did not pose an immediate threat.

Some Republican lawmakers, including Representative Mike Turner of Ohio, have acknowledged the potential illegality of these military actions. In contrast, others, such as Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, have defended the administration's aggressive military posture, advocating for the use of lethal force against perceived threats both domestically and internationally.

The concept of the "imperial boomerang" is pertinent, suggesting that violent tactics employed abroad can have repercussions for domestic security. The Trump administration's military focus in the Western Hemisphere reflects a broader imperialistic strategy, reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine, which has historically justified U.S. interventions in Latin America. Additionally, the administration's foreign policy has included controversial decisions, such as the pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking, further intertwining U.S. foreign policy with domestic political interests.

Hegseth's stance on military engagement, which questions adherence to international humanitarian laws, has prompted calls for increased congressional oversight. The implications of militarism and imperialism on international relations and domestic stability warrant critical examination, particularly in light of the humanitarian consequences of such aggressive tactics.

In a separate incident on November 29, 2025, a raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York City was disrupted by approximately 200 protesters, leading to multiple arrests amid confrontations with police. This event underscores a growing trend of citizen resistance against federal immigration enforcement actions, particularly those associated with the Trump administration, which has been marked by heightened detentions and deportations.

The protest occurred near Manhattan's Chinatown, where agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and ICE were preparing for the operation. Demonstrators employed makeshift barricades to obstruct ICE vehicles, and as tensions escalated, some protesters reportedly threw objects at the vehicles, prompting the deployment of a chemical irritant from one of the government vehicles.

Time magazine reported that federal agents ultimately abandoned the raid, which was intended to be the second large-scale operation in the area within six weeks. The previous raid in October resulted in the arrest of nine individuals, inciting protests and criticism from local political figures, including Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, who condemned the federal actions as “cruel and inhumane.”

Mamdani's transition team emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights of the city's immigrant population, integral to its social and economic fabric. The DHS attributed the violence to the protesters, while local politicians criticized the New York Police Department's (NYPD) involvement, noting that city law prohibits the department from assisting federal immigration enforcement. Christopher Marte, a Democratic city commissioner, expressed concern over the NYPD's actions, suggesting they facilitated ICE operations in the city. Following the incident, NYPD Commissioner Jennifer Tisch reportedly communicated her disapproval of the federal operation, indicating it posed risks to both the public and law enforcement personnel.