WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – Senior Democratic members of the United States House of Representatives have written to President Donald  Trump demanding the list of designated terrorist organisations (DTOs) and provide evidence for recent military strikes in the Caribbean Sea.

“Per your administration’s sparse reporting to Congress, you have determined that certain cartels are ‘non-state armed groups,’ that you have ‘designated them as terrorist organisations,’ and that you have ‘determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States’”, the representatives said.

“However, your administration has not identified any of the specific organisations you have determined to be included as designated terrorist organisations, nor the criteria or process used for making such determinations,” they added.

“You have also failed to specify the authority under which the administration is able to designate affiliates of certain drug trafficking organisations as enemy combatants for the purpose of undertaking lethal strikes,” the ranking Congressional representatives continued. “We request that you immediately provide a list of all designated terrorist organisations to Congress, along with the associated determination criteria or methodologies used.”

They said that the flow of illicit drugs into the United States has caused a “horrific public health crisis that must be addressed.

“Stemming that flow is an essential mission that has no military solution,” they said. “Congress has authorised the executive to interdict and prosecute drug trafficking, including military support for such law enforcement-led interdiction efforts.

“At the same time, interdiction must be paired with serious efforts to reduce demand,” added the congressional members, noting that Trump recently ordered four lethal military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea, “based on determinations that they were affiliated with entities you have designated as drug trafficking organizations and trafficking narcotics.”

They said the US Congress has the sole constitutional responsibility to declare war and to authorise the use of force, and that Trump has failed to secure such authorisation for these strikes.

“Further, the administration’s severe lack of transparency and failure to share critical information with Congress prevents Congress from conducting constitutionally ordained oversight of the Executive Branch,” the letter said.

In addition, it said that the president has not provided Congress with details regarding the intelligence associated with these strikes nor has the administration provided significant details with respect to the legal justification for these strikes “beyond vague assertions of Article II powers.

“The President’s Article II powers are significant, but they are not limitless,” the letter said. “It is our understanding that the Department of Defense has determined strikes against designated terrorist organisations are legal on the basis of a legal opinion produced by the Department of Justice.

“We ask that you provide that legal opinion to Congress immediately,” it added. “We look forward to receiving the list of designated terrorist organisations and the Department of Justice legal opinion.”

On Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Senate blocked a measure by Senate Democrats that would prohibit Trump from using military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea. The Senate voted 51-48.