Bovino says Chicago illegal immigration crackdown 'vindicated' after appeals court ruling

Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino said that the Trump administration's illegal immigration crackdown in Chicago was "vindicated" after an appeals court ruling restoring operations.

"Chicago efforts vindicated!!! Well done," Bovino posted on X on Monday.

A three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday reversed a preliminary injunction against federal immigration officers in the Chicago area issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama appointee, Fox News reported. The appeals court called Ellis’ injunction "overbroad" and "constitutionally suspect."

The panel faulted Ellis for applying her injunction not only to specific officers, but "the entire Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, as well as anyone acting in concert with them." The appeals court said it "effectively established the district court as the supervisor of all Executive Branch activity in the city of Chicago."

The Monday ruling effectively erases the lower court’s restrictions on federal immigration operations in Chicago, delivering a legal victory to authorities after months of backlash.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X on Monday regarding the ruling, "This is a significant victory by [Attorney General Pam Bondi] for the rule of law and separation of powers. A lower court judge tried to take control of our federal law enforcement agencies and dictate how they enforce immigration laws.

"The federal appeals court vacated the lower court’s injunction that placed use-of-force restrictions on immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz, calling it 'constitutionally suspect.' In the 15-page majority opinion, the judges wrote that the district court judge, 'working on a highly compressed timeline … granted an overbroad, constitutionally suspect injunction.'"

Bovino's role as Border Patrol commander at large was terminated, and he was pulled out of Minneapolis over federal agents killing two anti-ICE activists, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Border czar Tom Homan replaced Bovino as head of the Minneapolis operation in January. Bovino then returned to his previous role as chief of the Border Patrol's El Centro Sector in Southern California.