Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, introduced a new war powers resolution on Thursday seeking to stop the Trump administration from conducting future strikes in the Caribbean after the U.S. attacked a boat leaving Venezuela last week. Text of the first congressional resolution to address the strike was shared exclusively with The Intercept.

“There was no legal justification for the Trump Administration’s military escalation in the Caribbean,” Omar said in a statement to The Intercept. “It was not self-defense or authorized by Congress. That is why I am introducing a resolution to terminate hostilities against Venezuela, and against the transnational criminal organizations that the Administration has designated as terrorists this year. All of us should agree that the separation of powers is crucial to our democracy, and that only Congress has the power to declare war.”

Congress has the “sole power to declare war” as outlined in the Constitution, though U.S. presidents often bypass this authority when carrying out international attacks. Omar, deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, unveiled the resolution with the backing of CPC leaders, including caucus Chair Greg Casar, D-Texas, and caucus whip Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, D-Ill.

Casar said Trump’s strike was illegal.

“Donald Trump cannot be allowed to drag the United States into another endless war with his reckless actions,” Casar said. “It is illegal for the president to take the country........

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