Western District of Texas • 5:26-cv-00076

#1

Jan 08, 2026

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ATXWDC-21187552), filed by Osman Medina-Sanchez. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex 1 Detainee Locator, # 2 Exhibit Ex I-213, # 3 Exhibit Ex 3 EOIR Case Tracker, # 4 Exhibit Ex 4 Bond Denial, # 5 Exhibit Ex 5 I-601a Approval)(Shirhatti, Varsha) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

#2

Jan 08, 2026

ORDER --Respondents are ORDERED to file responses to the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus no later than January 15, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Petitioner shall have seven days from the date the responses are filed to file any reply. IT IS ORDERED that any possible or anticipated removal or transfer is IMMEDIATELY STAYED until further order from this Court. Respondents shall not transfer the above-named Petitioner outside of this judicial district during the pendency of this litigation and until further Order of this Court allowing removal or transfer.. Signed by Judge Jason K. Pulliam. (vl) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

#3

Jan 08, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt of 2 Order,, 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, (vl) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan 08, 2026

Deficiency Notice

Jan 08, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Jan 08, 2026

To be Referred to SA Mag Judge

Jan 08, 2026

If ordered by the court, all referrals will be assigned to Magistrate Judge Bemporad (rqr)

Jan 08, 2026

DEFICIENCY NOTICE: Please note that a Civil Cover Sheet is required when filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Please file the Civil Cover Sheet and link it to the Petition. re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, (rqr)

Jan 08, 2026

Case assigned to Judge Jason K. Pulliam. CM WILL NOW REFLECT THE JUDGE INITIALS AS PART OF THE CASE NUMBER. PLEASE APPEND THESE JUDGE INITIALS TO THE CASE NUMBER ON EACH DOCUMENT THAT YOU FILE IN THIS CASE. (rqr)

#4

Jan 09, 2026

Order

#5

Jan 14, 2026

Response to Habeas Petition

#6

Jan 15, 2026

TEXT ORDER GRANTING 1 PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS. Respondents have submitted an 5 Abbreviated Response to preserve the legal issues and to conserve judicial and party resources. They acknowledge that this Court's prior rulings concerning similar challenges to the government policy or practice at issue in this case, and the common question of law between this case and those rulings, would control the result in this case should this Court follow its legal reasoning in its prior decisions. After reviewing the briefing, provided evidence, and applicable law, the Court grants the petition for the same reasons stated in the prior relevant decisions identified in 5 Abbreviated Response. While Respondents respectfully disagree with those decisions, the factual and legal issues presented in this case do not differ in any material fashion from those presented in the identified decisions. As requested by Respondents, the Court incorporates the filings in those cases into the record in this case. For reasons previously stated in other cases, the Court finds that (1) it has jurisdiction to consider the arguments presented in the instant habeas petition; (2) Respondents have violated provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (3) Petitioner cannot be detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b); (4) fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412 are not available in habeas corpus proceedings like this one; and (5) Maldonado Bautista v. Santacruz, No. 5:25-CV-01873-SSS-BFM (C.D. Cal. 2025) does not preclude granting habeas relief in this case at this time. The Court treats the instant action solely as a habeas action under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and declines to consider any constitutional or other challenge presented. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, this Court concludes Petitioner's detention is unlawful, and habeas relief is proper. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Respondents are DIRECTED to RELEASE Petitioner from custody, under appropriate conditions of release, to a public place no later than January 17, 2026. Respondents must NOTIFY Petitioner's counsel of the exact location and exact time of his release as soon as practicable and no less than two hours before his release. Any possible or anticipated removal or transfer of Petitioner under this present detention is PROHIBITED. If Petitioner is re-detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226, all applicable procedures must be followed, including that Petitioner be afforded a bond hearing. The parties shall FILE a Joint Status report no later than January 18, 2026, confirming that Petitioner has been released. A written final judgment will be issued separately to summarize the orders of the Court and to close this habeas case. Signed by Judge Jason K. Pulliam. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (rw) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

#7

Jan 15, 2026

Judgment

#8

Jan 15, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt

Jan 15, 2026

Order

#9

Jan 18, 2026

Status Report