Western District of Texas • 5:26-cv-00248

#1

Jan 19, 2026

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ATXWDC-21236060), filed by CINDY MERARI CHINCHILLA-LOPEZ. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet COVER SHEET)(Waldron, John) (Entered: 01/19/2026)

#2

Jan 19, 2026

MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by CINDY MERARI CHINCHILLA-LOPEZ. (Waldron, John) (Entered: 01/19/2026)

#3

Jan 19, 2026

NOTICE of Filing CORRECTED CIVIL COVER SHEET by CINDY MERARI CHINCHILLA-LOPEZ (Waldron, John) (Entered: 01/19/2026)

Jan 19, 2026

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

Jan 19, 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. (vnd)

Jan 20, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Jan 20, 2026

To be Referred to SA Mag Judge

#4

Jan 21, 2026

Order

#5

Jan 21, 2026

Order

#6

Jan 21, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt

#7

Jan 27, 2026

Response

#8

Jan 27, 2026

TEXT ORDER GRANTING 1 Petition for Writ Of Habeas Corpus and MOOTING 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order, or in the alternative, for a Preliminary Injunction. Respondents have submitted an 7 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 7 Abbreviated Response and footnote 1 of 5 Order for Service. 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, including enforcement of purported rights as a member of a Bond Denial Class certified in Maldonado Bautista. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, this Court concludes Petitioner's detention is unlawful, and habeas relief is proper. Accordingly, it grants the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Given this ruling, the Court moots the motion for temporary restraining order and alternate motion. 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 29, 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 release. Any possible or anticipated removal or transfer of Petitioner under this present detention is PROHIBITED. Respondents shall FILE a Status Report no later than January 30, 2026, confirming that Petitioner has been released. If counsel for Petitioner disagrees with any aspect of the filed Status Report, counsel may file a separate Status Report. 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: 01/27/2026)

#9

Jan 27, 2026

Judgment

Jan 27, 2026

Order

#10

Jan 30, 2026

Advisory to the Court

#11

Feb 04, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt