Reps. Ritchie Torres and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez each issued assertion saying that Trump’s resolution to assault Iran with out Congressional authorization was illegal.
Photographs courtesy Rep. Torres’ workplace/Tom Williams/Pool through REUTERS
President Donald Trump’s newly-launched struggle towards the Iranian regime is being met with harsh criticism from Bronx Congress Members who’re dismayed by the president’s failure to hunt Congressional approval, as is required beneath the Structure.
America and Israel started launching missile assaults throughout the nation on Feb. 28 that killed the nation’s Supreme Chief, Ali Khamenei. In the meantime, Trump’s acknowledged goals for the assaults have been “shifting,” leaving unclear whether or not he meant for regime collapse, regime change, nuclear disarmament or different objectives.
Now, a regional struggle has unfold to different U.S.-allied international locations, such because the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and the strikes are estimated to have killed greater than 1,000 Iranian civilians and 6 American navy members.
Many Individuals have been caught off guard by the abrupt navy motion, as Trump has promoted an “America First” agenda and criticized previous presidents for U.S. involvement in extended international wars.
Congressional Democrats representing the Bronx are amongst these outraged that Trump didn’t search approval, and even present a briefing, earlier than launching assaults.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents components of the Bronx and Queens, referred to as the struggle “unlawful” and predicted that it “will be catastrophic” in a Feb. 28 assertion.
“Mr. President: this was not an inevitability. This is a deliberate choice of aggression when diplomacy and security were within reach. Stop lying to the American people,” she mentioned, including that she plans to help a decision calling for a direct finish to American actions in Iran.
Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres issued a March 2 assertion starting with a harsh rebuke of the Iranian regime, which he mentioned has been “a murderous oppressor of its own people” and an growing nuclear risk for the previous 40 years.
“If the Islamic Republic were to fall after four decades of repression and terror, not one American should shed a tear for its demise,” Torres mentioned.
Nevertheless, he additionally mentioned Trump’s failure to hunt approvals for the assault was illegal.
“The notion that a President can plunge the United States into a regional war in one of the most volatile places on earth — without even briefing Congress, much less securing its authorization — is irreconcilable with the text, structure, and history of the Constitution,” Torres mentioned.
New York Metropolis on alert
Because the battle spreads, New York Metropolis stays on excessive alert.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani mentioned whereas no particular threats have been recognized, the town has ramped up safety round diplomatic and non secular websites, based on New York News.
“Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace,” Mamdani mentioned in a Feb. 28 put up on X.
He additionally spoke on to Iranians in New York, saying, “You are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders. You will be safe here.”
However the Jewish Telegraphic Company, amongst different retailers, identified that Mamdani didn’t present a message of help to Jewish New Yorkers or these Iranians celebrating the opportunity of the oppressive regime’s finish. The Bronx Instances reached out to the Bronx Jewish Heart however didn’t obtain a response in time for publication.
The Bronx Instances contacted the Bronx Muslim Heart for remark however didn’t obtain a response.
Simply days in, the struggle’s human toll is taking form amid rising concern that folks already persecuted beneath the Iranian regime might face additional injustice.
The Heart for Human Rights in Iran issued an announcement saying that political prisoners detained through the protests which have roiled the nation since late 2025 are weak to “secret executions” amid the turmoil of struggle.
The middle referred to as for pressing diplomatic help in securing the prisoners’ launch.
“The Islamic Republic has a history of using the shadow of war and crises to carry out abuses in prisons and retaliate against political prisoners,” their assertion mentioned. “The safety of the prisoners and detainees in Iran must be protected and prioritized.”
