Rebecca Ingber
@becingber.bsky.social
13K followers 810 following 470 posts
Law prof at Cardozo Law. Former U.S. State Dept a few times over. Writes on international law, war powers and national security, presidential power and bureaucracy. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=1587178
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
becingber.bsky.social
“The war powers that Congress and the courts have over time granted the President are extraordinary. When the courts cede to the President absolute discretion to turn them on, this makes them virtually limitless.”
Judicial Deference and Presidential Power Under the Alien Enemies Act
Legal scholar discusses where judges have and should draw the line on judicial deference to the President in Alien Enemies Act litigation.
www.justsecurity.org
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
bcfinucane.bsky.social
Glad to see Senator Paul co-sponsoring the war powers resolution to block further strikes in the Caribbean.

Senator Schiff has said he will force a vote on the resolution today.
We can't have a policy where we just blow up ships." Kentucky Sen. 
@RandPaul
 told 
@jmathieureports
 that he will be co-sponsoring a War Powers Act resolution later this week with eyes on military strikes on vessels allegedly ferrying drugs from Venezuela
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
debpearlstein.bsky.social
Yup, the only possible solution for this is the 82nd Airborne.
courtneyvaughn.bsky.social
Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
bcfinucane.bsky.social
Senator Slotkin asks Army GC nominee about how many "designated terrorist organizations" the US is now supposedly in an armed conflict with and whether he can name them.

Army GC nominee refuses to answer.

Administration refuses to tell American public and Congress who POTUS has declared war on.
becingber.bsky.social
We lawyers keep saying there is no limiting principle to the Administration’s legal theory on these boat strikes, but as usual the Onion captures it:
becingber.bsky.social
One job
atrupar.com
COONS: How did you conclude that these strikes on boats in the open ocean are legal?

BONDI: I'm not going to discuss any legal advice that my department may or may not have issued
becingber.bsky.social
News of the DOJ OLC memo justifying these strikes broke just after we wrapped. But we already knew the govt’s legal theory — and carefully debunked it:
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Of course, it's an even bigger deal that the President is in fact authorizing these murders.
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
It's a pretty big deal that the NYC Bar Association--one of the most prominent and respected bar associations in the country--is accusing the President of ordering the "unlawful summary execution," i.e. murder--of civilians in violation of US and international law. www.nycbar.org/press-releas...
becingber.bsky.social
They’ve been more competent than I expected :(
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
tessbridgeman.bsky.social
Four more people were killed this morning.

To repeat:

- If it can happen at sea, it can happen anywhere

- Trump has offered no definition or limiting principle for who can be labeled a "terrorist" and summarily killed

- And no plausible legal theory for why an armed conflict exists
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
bcfinucane.bsky.social
Further premeditated killing by the Trump administration.

Labelling the victims of these strikes as "narco-terrorists" does not magically make these attacks legal.
Earlier this morning, on President Trump's orders, I directed a lethal, kinetic strike on a narco-trafficking vessel affiliated with Designated Terrorist Organizations in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike, and no U.S. forces were harmed in the operation. The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics - headed to America to poison our people.
 
Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route. These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!
Reposted by Rebecca Ingber
tessbridgeman.bsky.social
Mary McCord, former Acting Assistant AG for National Security, and I teamed up on Qs Senators should ask #Bondi at her Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, on strikes that have killed 17 people to date.

The implications are serious. Consider a few of the Qs:

www.justsecurity.org/121862/ask-b...
What the Senate Judiciary Committee Should Ask A.G. Bondi on Drug Cartel Strikes
Annotated questions the Senate Judiciary Committee could ask Attorney General Pam Bondi on lethal strikes against drug cartels.
www.justsecurity.org
becingber.bsky.social
If the US starts taking these strikes in Venezuela, that itself may be an armed attack, and they may start an armed conflict with Venezuela.

But none of this turns drug smuggling into hostilities under the laws of war or the people who engage in it into combatants.
becingber.bsky.social
This is not the first time Trump has claimed war in order to hurt people but the words alone don’t make it legal.

There has been no armed attack here from a state or armed group. There have been no hostilities (other than from us). There is no organized armed group fighting us, and no combatants.
charliesavage.bsky.social
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told

A notice calls the people the U.S. military recently killed on suspicion of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea “unlawful combatants.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told
www.nytimes.com
becingber.bsky.social
Would like to know how this intersects with Hegseth’s “maximum lethality” and no “mission creep”
atrupar.com
Trump to generals: "Last month, I signed an executive order to provide training for a quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is gonna be a big thing for the people in this room, because it's the enemy from within & we have to handle it before it gets out of control"
becingber.bsky.social
Gift link here:
ewong.bsky.social
NEW: Sec. Rubio is leading a push to try to oust Maduro. The Pentagon has put 6,500 troops in the region and is drawing up possible operations against crime gangs in Venezuela. Opposition figures say they're talking to the US about plans. Gift link to our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...
Top Trump Aides Push for Ousting Maduro From Power in Venezuela
www.nytimes.com
becingber.bsky.social
This may be what they want to say, but it is not a legally available option. Furthermore, none of these arguments would justify the targeted killing of civilians — which is what mere drug smugglers would be in such a scenario
becingber.bsky.social
To be clear, the USG cannot use recognition of a different govt pre-textually as means of getting around the UN Charter prohibition on the use of force against another state
Top Trump Aides Push for Ousting Maduro From Power in Venezuela
www.nytimes.com
becingber.bsky.social
Cost: 270 electoral votes