ACLU Sues Trump Administration Over New Rules on Lethal US Strikes Abroad

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed on Thursday a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking the release of the new principles, standards and procedures for lethal strikes on individuals abroad who are outside recognized battlefields.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — ACLU said in the filing that it seeks the "immediate processing and timely release of agency records" from the department of Defense, Justice and State.

"This is an action under the Freedom of Information Act seeking the Trump administration’s rules governing the use of lethal force abroad, known as the Principles, Standards, and Procedures, or PSP rules," the ACLU said in its court filing.

The ACLU explained the Trump administration's PSP rules broaden the use of lethal force abroad against a wider range of individuals who are not located in designated combat zones.The filing added that modified PSP rules remove safeguards set by the Obama Administration in 2016 to limit civilian casualties.

"The changes in the PSP are expected to result in more strikes, against individuals with no special skills or leadership roles in more places outside recognized battlefields," the ACLU said in its court filing.

Trump’s new secret killing rules must be made public so we can all better grapple with the harm our government is causing, both at home and abroad. https://t.co/rcuaF3NpLB

— ACLU (@ACLU) 21 декабря 2017 г.

The ACLU noted in its court filing that the United States started carrying out lethal strikes abroad in 2001, resulting in the killing of hundreds of individuals, including children.

Lethal strikes can be conducted by unmanned aerial vehicles, special forces teams, precision air strikes and other military and non-military means.