The Trump administration told Congress confidentially this week that drug smugglers are to be designated as “unlawful combatants” in an “armed conflict” between the United States and drug cartels, the New York Times reports. Professor Geoffrey Corn, member of CERL’s Advisory Council, explains at the Times that targeting civilians who are not actively engaged in hostilities is “abuse” that exceeds the bounds of what is legal under international law.  

Geoffrey S. Corn is the George R. Killam, Jr. Chair of Criminal Law and Director of the Center for Military Law and Policy, Texas Tech University School of Law. A retired U.S. Army Judge Advocate Officer, he served as the Army’s senior law of war advisor. He is also a member of the CERL Advisory Council. Read his bio here.  

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