Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino declared the Trump administration’s Chicago immigration crackdown «vindicated» Monday after a federal appeals court threw out a sweeping injunction that had curtailed enforcement operations in the city.

On Monday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit tossed out a preliminary injunction against federal officers enforcing immigration law in the Chicago area issued by Obama-appointed Judge Sara Ellis. The circuit court issued a blistering rebuke of the Ellis’ injunction, calling it «overbroad» and «constitutionally suspect.» The ruling effectively erases the lower court’s restrictions on federal immigration operations in Chicago, delivering a legal victory to federal immigration authorities and giving the controversial official fresh political ammunition after months of backlash.

After the ruling, Bovino posted on X, «Chicago efforts vindicated!!! Well done.»

«What’s not suspect is legal, ethical, and moral Border Patrol Agents conducting operations in Chicago. Well done, Border Patrol! TRUTH came through!» he wrote in another post.

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Bovino was recently pulled out of his leading role in Minneapolis amid intense controversy over the killing of two anti-ICE activists, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal officers. He has faced intense criticism from Democrats across the country.

In his previous role as Border Patrol commander at large, Bovino became the face of many of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations, including Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

Bovino was replaced by Border Czar Tom Homan in heading the Minneapolis operation in January. He was returned to his previous role as chief of the Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector in Southern California.

Despite the criticisms leveled against him, after the circuit court ruling, Bovino touted Border Patrol agents as the «most highly trained, experienced agency ready to take on expeditionary type missions in the toughest of environments.»

«Our operations are conducted with much foresight with the most experienced, proven, and battle hardened agents the Border Patrol has to offer to ensure we WIN every time,» he added in another tweet celebrating the ruling.

FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR SLAMS PRITZKER FOR ‘MALPRACTICE’ AS BEARS LOOK TO FLEE TO RED STATE

Police take two people into custody, as tear gas fills the air after it was used by federal law enforcement agents who were being confronted by community members and activists for reportedly shooting a woman in the Brighton Park neighborhood on October 4, 2025 in Broadview, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

In its ruling, the appeals court panel faulted Ellis for applying her injunction not just to specific officers but «the entire Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, as well as anyone acting in concert with them.» The panel criticized this, saying it «effectively established the district court as the supervisor of all Executive Branch activity in the city of Chicago.»

Ellis had issued a lengthy 233-page opinion explaining why she granted the class-wide preliminary injunction against Homeland Security and Justice Department authorities carrying out immigration enforcement in Chicago. Her order followed a string of clashes between protesters and agents during Operation Midway Blitz, the effort launched last year by the Trump administration to crack down on illegal immigration and street crime in Chicago.

Ellis justified the injunction by saying it was not novel and that it only ordered federal agents to follow current DHS policies regarding use of force and body-worn cameras.

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Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino walks through a gas station while searching for undocumented immigrants on November 17, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)

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«In other words, the Court’s order should break no new ground, and indeed it tracks similar orders entered in other crowd control cases across the country,» Ellis said.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Oliver and Louis Casiano and Fox News’ Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

Una tienda especializada en Alabama informó que durante 2025 fueron encontrados en valijas no reclamadas objetos tan diversos como espadas samurái, una chaqueta de vuelo de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y un meteorito, tras agotar los procedimientos de devolución de las aerolíneas. El fenómeno afecta a pasajeros de vuelos nacionales e internacionales y muestra el alcance y el destino final de los bienes extraviados en aeropuertos de Estados Unidos.

Según comunicó el canal económico estadounidense Fox Business, la principal compañía de venta de equipaje no reclamado de EE. UU., Unclaimed Baggage, ubicada en Scottsboro, Alabama, publicó en marzo su informe anual Found Report 2025, donde documenta los objetos más costosos, raros y sorprendentes hallados en equipaje no reclamado. El reporte se nutre de los bienes que la compañía recibe de las aerolíneas tras culminar el proceso obligatorio para localizar a los propietarios, conforme a la normativa vigente y los protocolos federales.

La gestión de equipaje extraviado en Estados Unidos obedece a reglas federales y acuerdos comerciales entre aerolíneas y minoristas autorizados. Cuando la devolución al pasajero no resulta posible tras un periodo determinado, los objetos terminan en comercios habilitados a comercializar su contenido. Así lo explicó la Asociación Internacional de Transporte Aéreo (IATA). El caso de Unclaimed Baggage es representativo de este mecanismo, que transforma el extravío en una fuente continua de hallazgos fuera de lo común.

El informe Found Report 2025 de Unclaimed Baggage documentó la aparición de una amplia variedad de artículos, entre ellos un set de espadas samurái, una chaqueta de vuelo A-2 de la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos utilizada en la Segunda Guerra Mundial y un meteorito. Según la compañía, estos objetos forman parte de los hallazgos inusuales, junto a piezas como un robot ensamblado, un lingote de oro australiano de una onza, dientes grill de oro de 10 quilates, guantes de boxeo autografiados por Terence Crawford, un didgeridoo de teca y un traje de apicultor. Fox Business resaltó que el 99,9 % de las maletas extraviadas finalmente se devuelve a sus dueños, mientras que solo el 0,1 % termina en el circuito de venta minorista especializado.

En esa línea, Fox Business detalló que la lista de hallazgos incluye objetos como un teléfono antiguo Kellogg, una moneda conmemorativa de 1893, un Ken doll de los años sesenta, una réplica de esqueleto, un bolso con forma de rana y una maleta que contenía veneno para ratas. Para Bryan Owens, director ejecutivo de Unclaimed Baggage, cada año el equipo se sorprende ante nuevos descubrimientos: “Después de más de cincuenta y cinco años recuperando objetos perdidos y rechazados, a veces creemos haberlo visto todo. Pero entonces aparece algo como un juego de espadas samurái o un robot completamente ensamblado y recordamos por qué existe el Found Report”.

El informe anual de Unclaimed Baggage identificó una serie de objetos con alto valor de mercado durante el último año. Entre ellos figuran pendientes de diamantes blancos valorados en más de USD 43.000, un Rolex de acero inoxidable con detalles en oro amarillo de 18 quilates y esfera de diamantes, estimado en USD 35.000, un clarinete bajo Tosca de USD 17.500 y una chaqueta de cuero Balenciaga con un precio de USD 12.500. La lista se completa con una cámara térmica T530 valorada en más de USD 12.000.

Estos artículos fueron detectados durante la apertura y catalogación del equipaje bajo protocolos internos que priorizan la seguridad y la identificación precisa de cada objeto, según datos institucionales de la empresa. Fox Business remarcó que parte de los hallazgos de mayor valor corresponde a objetos de lujo, tecnología y moda.

El informe Found Report 2025 de Unclaimed Baggage identificó un crecimiento en el transporte de objetos relacionados con la cultura pop, así como un aumento en la cantidad de libros y oro en diferentes formatos. La compañía observó una mayor presencia de artículos de colección, prendas de diseñador y objetos vinculados a la cultura del lujo accesible. Entre los libros más frecuentes figuran títulos de Freida McFadden.

De acuerdo con Unclaimed Baggage, en 2025 se hallaron más piezas de oro que en años recientes, incluyendo dados de 24 quilates y palos de golf bañados en oro. También se detectó la llegada de piezas de colección como una moneda de 1893, un Ken doll original y una selección de casetes vintage. Fox Business y otros portales especializados confirmaron estos datos, aportando así una visión de las preferencias y hábitos de los viajeros estadounidenses e internacionales.

El manejo del equipaje extraviado en Estados Unidos responde a una secuencia regulada. Según la IATA y la propia Unclaimed Baggage, las aerolíneas intentan localizar a los propietarios mediante sistemas de rastreo y contacto durante un periodo previamente establecido. Si después de ese plazo el equipaje no es reclamado, se transfiere a empresas autorizadas que pueden vender, reciclar o donar el contenido.

Un tercio de los artículos recuperados es reciclado y otro tercio es donado a organizaciones benéficas, informó Unclaimed Baggage. Así lo explicó Bryan Owens en declaraciones recogidas por Fox Business, donde añadió que las aerolíneas tienen incentivos económicos para lograr la devolución, ya que el costo de indemnizaciones y la logística asociada supera el ingreso por la venta de objetos no reclamados.

El destino de los objetos hallados en equipaje no reclamado depende de su naturaleza y valor. Según Unclaimed Baggage, los artículos de uso cotidiano y vestimenta suelen ponerse a la venta en el local de Scottsboro, mientras que las piezas históricas, de colección o de alto valor pueden ser donadas a museos, instituciones educativas u organizaciones sin fines de lucro.

En 2025 se destacan objetos históricos recuperados como una chaqueta de vuelo A-2 de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, una bayoneta anterior a la Primera Guerra Mundial y una selección de monedas antiguas. La compañía indicó que este tipo de hallazgos representa una minoría dentro del total de objetos procesados, pero aporta diversidad al inventario y atrae interés público hacia la tienda.

Los pasajeros que pierden su equipaje cuentan con una alta probabilidad de recuperación, conforme a los informes de Unclaimed Baggage y los procedimientos de las aerolíneas. La compañía estima que el 99,9 % de las maletas extraviadas finalmente regresa a sus dueños, mientras que solo una fracción mínima termina en el comercio minorista especializado.

La publicación anual del Found Report permite analizar patrones de consumo, movilidad internacional y hábitos de los viajeros. El estudio de los objetos hallados anticipa posibles cambios en la regulación y los procedimientos de devolución de la industria aérea estadounidense. Según datos recogidos por Fox Business, la difusión de estos informes contribuye a dimensionar la magnitud del fenómeno y a comprender el destino de los bienes extraviados.

De acuerdo con el equipo directivo de Unclaimed Baggage y los análisis publicados por Fox Business, el flujo de equipaje no reclamado continuará reflejando las tendencias de consumo y los cambios en los hábitos de viaje. El informe de 2025 resalta el aumento de objetos tecnológicos, prendas de lujo y piezas de colección que viajan en las maletas de los pasajeros.

El proceso de reciclaje, donación y comercialización de objetos extraviados seguirá bajo regulación federal y con participación de empresas autorizadas. Las aerolíneas mantienen su interés en reducir la cantidad de equipaje perdido, tanto por razones económicas como de satisfacción del cliente.

As Cuba faces rolling blackouts, food shortages and renewed protests, Cuban human rights activist Rosa María Payá is warning in an interview to Fox News Digital that the island’s deepening crisis cannot be solved with economic reforms alone and is urging the United States to maintain pressure on the communist government in Havana.

The recent outages and shortages are tied to Cuba’s worsening energy and economic crisis. 

A recent nationwide blackout was triggered by a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the island’s largest power station, cutting electricity across much of the country, according to Reuters. The crisis has been compounded by fuel shortages after the Trump administration moved to curtail oil shipments to the island, particularly from Venezuela — one of Cuba’s main suppliers. 

Cuban officials say U.S. sanctions have worsened the country’s economic difficulties, while repeated power plant failures and an aging electrical grid have left millions facing prolonged blackouts that have fueled growing public frustration and protests.

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The state-run company blamed U.S. sanctions in an official statement, saying, «Without ending the financial blockade, there can be no permanent energy stability,» according to CubaHeadlines.

The Trump administration has increased pressure on Cuba in recent months, tightening sanctions and targeting oil shipments that help power the island’s energy system. The measures are part of a broader effort to weaken the Cuban government and support democratic change on the island. 

«To President Trump, it’s important for you to know that the Cuban people are grateful for what this administration is doing and that we are ready, and we want to make Cuba great again,» Payá said, addressing him directly. «And that means an end to the communist dictatorship, not just a new economy, but a new republic.» 

Her appeal comes as Cuba has re-emerged in Washington’s foreign policy discussions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and one of the most prominent Cuban–American voices in U.S. politics, long has advocated a tougher stance toward Havana and stronger support for pro-democracy movements on the island. 

The Trump administration recently has increased pressure on the Cuban government, including measures targeting oil shipments that help sustain the island’s struggling energy sector. 

Trump praised Rubio during a press conference Tuesday and suggested he could play a central role in any potential negotiations with Havana.

«Marco Rubio is doing a great job,» Trump said. «I think he’s going to go down as the greatest secretary of state in history. They trust Marco.»

«We want to work with President Trump and with Secretary Rubio, the opposition is united,» Payá said. «We have a plan. It’s called the Freedom Accord,» she added, referring to a democratic transition framework promoted by opposition groups in Cuba. «We are ready to lead this process. The moment is now, Mr. President.»

Opposition groups have developed the Freedom Accord, a political roadmap for democratic change, which she says would guide a transition away from the current system in Cuba. 

Payá, 37, who escaped the country 13 years ago, has spent the past decade advocating internationally for democratic change in Cuba. 

She is the daughter of prominent dissident Oswaldo Payá, founder of the Christian Liberation Movement and architect of the Varela Project, a petition campaign in the early 2000s that gathered more than 25,000 signatures demanding free elections and civil liberties in Cuba.

Her father died in 2012 alongside fellow activist Harold Cepero in what Payá describes as an assassination by the Cuban regime. Cuban authorities said the men were killed in a car crash in eastern Cuba, but the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights later concluded there were «serious indications» that Cuban state agents were involved in the deaths.

«After the Cuban regime assassinated my father … I have been trying to follow his legacy together with many, many other Cubans on the island and in exile that today believe that we have a real chance and freedom,» she said, describing a movement that today includes activists both on the island and in exile.

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Members of the «Ladies in White» opposition group march beside the funeral procession of Oswaldo Paya, one of Cuba’s best-known dissidents, in Havana, July 24, 2012.  (Reuters)

The crisis inside Cuba has reached a level where basic survival has become a daily struggle for many families, according to Payá.  

«The situation today is that mothers don’t know if they are going to be able to feed their child tonight,» she said. «Most of the island has been suffering blackouts that last for days on many occasions.»The island has experienced waves of unrest in recent years driven by economic collapse and political repression. 

The largest demonstrations against the regime erupted on July 11, 2021, when thousands of Cubans took to the streets across the island chanting «freedom» in the biggest protests since the 1959 revolution.

Authorities responded with mass arrests and prison sentences for many demonstrators. 

For Payá, those protests reflected something deeper than economic frustration.

«The Cuban people have been fighting for freedom for the last 67 years,» she said. «We are demanding political freedom, not just a new economy.»

Despite comparisons between Cuba’s crisis and the political turmoil in Venezuela, Payá argues the situation in Cuba is fundamentally different. 

«Cuba’s situation is quite different,» she said. «This is the longest running communist dictatorship in the Western hemisphere.» 

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Cuban exiles block the Palmetto Expressway at Coral Way in support of protesters in Cuba in 2021 in Miami.  (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)

While she emphasized that Cubans themselves must ultimately drive political change, Payá said international pressure remains essential because of the regime’s ability to repress dissent.

Her appeal comes as Cuba has re-emerged in Washington’s foreign policy discussions.

Payá said the Cuban opposition hopes the United States will continue supporting democratic change on the island.

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Anabel Oliva, 20, speaks outside the University of Havana during a protest against disruptions in classes due to energy and internet shortages, amid U.S. sanctions and an oil blockade that have deepened the country’s crisis, in Havana, Cuba, March 9, 2026.  (Norlys Perez/Reuters)

«I believe that President Trump knows very well, better than anyone, the difference between a real deal and a better one,» she said. «He understands that this dictatorship must end.»

«To end the crisis,» she added, «we need to end the regime.»

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Rubio for comment and has not yet received a reply. 

Reuters contributed to this report.