U.S. citizens have revived a lawsuit in Miami against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following his capture, as well as against Vice President and now acting leader Delcy Rodríguez and other senior Chavista officials, whom they accuse of kidnapping, torture, and terrorism.

The plaintiffs — including U.S. citizens who were kidnapped in Venezuela and two minors — filed a motion over the weekend before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida asking the court to declare the defendants in default for failing to respond to the lawsuit initially filed on August 14, 2025, according to court documents made public on Monday.

The case, assigned to Judge Darrin P. Gayles, accuses the Venezuelan leaders of violating the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), the Florida Anti-Terrorism Act, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

In addition to Maduro and Rodríguez, the lawsuit names Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López; Attorney General Tarek William Saab; Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello; former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maikel Moreno; and National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez.

The complaint also lists the state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and former Electricity Minister Néstor Reverol as defendants.

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According to the filing, Maduro “committed flagrant acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens,” citing the criminal case in New York in which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in court for the first time on Monday following their arrest on Saturday.

The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs “were held captive by Maduro” with “illegal material support” from the other defendants, whom it identifies as members of the Cartel of the Suns, a group designated by the United States as a terrorist organization last year.

The flu continues to take a heavy toll across the United States, with all but four states reporting high or very high levels of activity as a new viral strain known as subclade K continues to spread.

According to another key indicator — doctor visits for fever accompanied by cough or sore throat, common flu symptoms — the U.S. is experiencing its highest level of respiratory illness since at least the 1997–98 flu season, based on data released Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“This is definitely a standout year,” said Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It’s the worst we’ve seen in at least 20 years. Most of the country is experiencing very high levels of activity, and we are still near the peak.”

Rivers noted that it is unusual to see such a severe flu season following another poor season the previous year, as intense seasons typically do not occur back to back.

Nationwide, approximately 8.2% of doctor visits during the final week of the year were for flu-like symptoms. At the same point last season — which was also severe — that figure stood at 6.7%.

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In Massachusetts, where flu activity is reported as very high, health officials urged residents to get vaccinated.

“This is a moment for clarity, urgency, and action,” said Dr. Robbie Goldstein, Commissioner of Public Health, in a press release. “These viruses are serious, dangerous, and potentially deadly. We are seeing critically ill children, families grieving devastating losses, and hospitals under strain due to capacity.”

Florida’s Tidal Wave immigration enforcement operation has resulted in the detention of 10,400 migrants, mostly from Mexico, Central America and Venezuela, since it began eight months ago in coordination with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Monday.

“This is the largest joint immigration law enforcement operation in the history of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and we are proud that it will continue here in Florida,” the Republican governor said during a news conference in Sanderson, in northern Florida.

According to Florida authorities, Guatemala accounts for the largest number of detainees, with 3,435 arrests, followed by Mexico (3,331), Honduras (1,353), El Salvador (312) and Venezuela (also 312). Officials did not specify the countries of origin for the remaining detainees.

Nearly two-thirds of those arrested — 63% — had a prior criminal conviction or previous arrest, including violent offenders, gang members, sex offenders, fugitives and individuals who “pose a serious public safety threat,” according to an infographic shared by DeSantis.

In addition, Florida transferred 1,916 detainees to “Alligator Alcatraz,” the migrant detention facility opened by the state government last July in the Everglades, a natural area west of Miami surrounded by alligators, snakes and other wildlife.

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“Many of the more than 10,000 individuals arrested in this operation were attempting to prey on our children. Rest assured, our state prosecutors will make sure these criminals spend significant time behind bars before being sent back to where they came from,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said.

Officials emphasized that Florida has become a flagship state for the Trump administration’s second-term immigration policy, leading the nation in the number of 287(g) agreements, which formalize cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and ICE.