District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-00545

Jan 15, 2026

Case assigned to Judge Michael E. Farbiarz. (jr)

#1

Jan 16, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17005776.), filed by RONALDO BATISTA VAZ. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Text of Proposed Order, # 4 Exhibit Detainee location as of filing)(TUOHY, EMMA) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

Jan 19, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

#2

Jan 20, 2026

TEXT ORDER: Acting pursuant to the All Writs Act, see 28 U.S.C. § 1651, the Court hereby enjoins the Respondents and those acting for them from removing the Petitioner from this District or causing his removal. This is an administrative stay, to briefly freeze the status quo and preserve the Court's jurisdiction, should it exist. See Zheng v. Bondi, 2025 WL 280542, at *1 (D.N.J. Sept. 26, 2025). Whether, after the Court of Appeals' decision in Khalil v. President, United States of America, 2026 WL 111933 (3d Cir. Jan. 15, 2026), the Court has habeas jurisdiction in a certain class of cases is an issue now being briefed in another case. See Aygun v. Soto (2:25-cv-18540-MEF). The Respondents' papers in that case are due on or before January 23 at noon. On January 23 at 1:00pm, the Respondents shall indicate whether its habeas jurisdiction arguments in Aygun v. Soto are different in any meaningful way from any habeas jurisdiction arguments that might be relevant in this case. The Petitioner shall file a letter brief on or before January 30 at noon indicating whether, after the Court of Appeals' Khalil decision, the Court has habeas jurisdiction in this case. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 1/20/2026. (ro, ) (Entered: 01/20/2026)

Jan 20, 2026

Text Order

#3

Jan 22, 2026

Substitution of Attorney

#4

Jan 22, 2026

Letter

#5

Jan 23, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Respondents' brief alluded to in ECF 2 is now due on January 26 at 11:59pm. See Aygun v. Soto, 2:25-cv-18540-MEF at ECF 16. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 1/23/26. (ro, ) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

Jan 23, 2026

Order

#6

Jan 26, 2026

Letter

#7

Jan 27, 2026

Letter

#8

Jan 29, 2026

TEXT ORDER:The Respondents shall file a letter brief on or before February 2 at 10:00am. It shall answer two questions in detail and with full reference to the governing caselaw. First, whether a federal court of appeals considering a petition for review after the Board of Immigration Appeals issues a final order of removal can consider whether the immigration courts should have treated the relevant petitioner under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) (as opposed to under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)) and therefore as eligible for a bail hearing. Second, and relatedly, whether any decision of the immigration courts to treat a petitioner under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) (as opposed to under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)) "is a 'matter[ ] on which the validity of the final order [of removal entered by the BIA] is contingent.'" Khalil v. President, United States, 2026 WL 111933, at *10 (3d Cir. Jan 15, 2026) (quoting Massieu v. Reno, 91 F.3d 416, 422 (3d Cir. 1996)). If yes, the Respondents shall explain why this is so. If no, the Respondents shall explain why this is not so --- and also what the implications of that are for whether 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(9) strips habeas jurisdiction from district courts asked to consider whether a detained noncitizen purportedly covered by 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2) should be treated as covered by 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). (The briefing to this point from the Respondents has been glancing, and not commensurate with the "complex[ity]" of this issue, as they have described it. See Agyun v. Soto (2:25-cv-18540-MEF) (ECF 14). It is imperative that the letter brief due to be filed on Monday be a sustained treatment of the relevant legal issues.) The Petitioner is free to weigh in on the issues described here, by means of a letter brief to be filed on or before February 3 at 10:00am. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 1/29/2026. (ro, ) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

Jan 29, 2026

Text Order

#9

Feb 02, 2026

Letter

Feb 05, 2026

Text Order

#11

Feb 09, 2026

Letter

Feb 11, 2026

Text Order