Southern District of Texas • 5:26-cv-00042

#1

Jan 12, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Filing fee $ 5) filed by Malekzada Shir Khan. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Envelope) (scg5) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

#2

Jan 12, 2026

ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga) Parties notified. (scg5) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

#3

Jan 12, 2026

MOTION for Appointment of Counsel. Motions referred to Diana Song Quiroga by Malekzada Shir Khan, filed. Motion Docket Date 2/2/2026. (scg5) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan 12, 2026

Referral Judge Selected: Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga randomly selected to receive referrals. An order or notice of referral of case or motion to follow. (scg5)

#4

Jan 13, 2026

NOTICE to Pro Se Litigant of Case Opening. Party notified, filed. (scg5) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

#5

Jan 13, 2026

Respondents are hereby ORDERED to submit a response and serve it on Petitioner no later than January 21, 2026, which is between the three-to-twenty day time period contemplated by 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Petitioner is permitted to submit a reply to Respondents Response on or before February 4, 2026. Additionally, in order to maintain the status quo while the Court considers Petitioners habeas petition and to preserve this Courts jurisdiction, it is further ORDERED that Respondents may not transfer Petitioner outside of this Courts jurisdiction while the matter remains pending. (Signed by Judge Diana Saldana) Parties notified. (clr5) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan 13, 2026

Filing Fee Received

Jan 13, 2026

writ of habeas corpus filing fee Filing fee: $5.00 re: 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, receipt number 500001639, filed. (akp5)

Jan 13, 2026

Referral Judge Selected

#12

Jan 21, 2026

Opposed MOTION for Extension of Time ResponseMotions referred to Diana Song Quiroga. by Pam Bondi, Leticia Diaz, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, filed. Motion Docket Date 2/11/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Bastian, Christopher) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

#13

Jan 21, 2026

ORDER granting 12 Motion for Extension of Time..Finding good cause shown, leave is hereby granted for Respondents to file a Response to Petitioner's Petitioner for Writ of Habeas Corpus on or before January 28, 2026, and serve it on Petitioner. Petitioners may submit a reply to the response on or before February 11, 2026. (Signed by Judge Diana Saldana) Parties notified. (vrc5) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

Jan 23, 2026

***Delivery Confirmation for delivery date(s) 1/20/2026 re: 8 Document(s) Sent, filed. (akp5)

Jan 23, 2026

***Delivery Confirmation for delivery date(s) 1/20/2026 re: 6 Document(s) Sent, filed. (akp5)

Jan 23, 2026

Delivery Confirmation

#16

Jan 27, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt Returned as to Nicholas Ganjei, executed on 1/21/26 re: 7 Document(s) Sent - receipt attached, access restricted to court users for privacy reasons -, filed. (aav5) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

#15

Jan 28, 2026

RESPONSE and motion to dismiss, filed by Pam Bondi, Leticia Diaz, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit) (Bastian, Christopher) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#17

Jan 29, 2026

CONSENT to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge by Malekzada Shir Kahn, filed. (Attachments: # 1 Envelope) (aav5) (Entered: 02/02/2026)

#18

Feb 03, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt Returned, executed on 1/27/2026 - receipt attached, access restricted to court users for privacy reasons -, filed. (tat5) (Entered: 02/03/2026)

#19

Feb 09, 2026

ORDER. In light of the information provided, Respondents are hereby ORDERED to supply the Court with an update on any additional progress that has been made to effectuate Petitioners removal to Afghanistan by February 23, 2026. (Signed by Judge Diana Saldana) Parties notified. (scg5) (Entered: 02/10/2026)

#20

Feb 13, 2026

DECLARATION of Shir Khan Malehzada re: 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed. (Attachments: # 1 Envelope) (tat5) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#21

Feb 23, 2026

NOTICE Respondents' advisory pursuant to Court's order by Pam Bondi, Leticia Diaz, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, filed. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit) (Bastian, Christopher) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

#22

Mar 02, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt Returned, executed on 01/28/2026 re: 10 Document(s) Sent - receipt attached, access restricted to court users for privacy reasons -, filed. (jb5) (Entered: 03/02/2026)

#23

Mar 02, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt Returned, executed on 02/06/2026 re: 9 Document(s) Sent - receipt attached, access restricted to court users for privacy reasons -, filed. (jb5) (Entered: 03/02/2026)

#24

Mar 02, 2026

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER. For the forgoing reasons, Petitioners Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, 1, is GRANTED. Respondents Response to Petitioners Writ of Habeas Corpus and Motion to Dismiss, 15, is DENIED. Petitioners Motion for Appointment of Counsel, 3, is DENIED as MOOT. Respondents are ORDERED to release Petitioner from custody on or before March 3, 2026. At the time of his release from custody, Respondents must return to Petitioner any and all identification documents taken from him at the time of his apprehension or during his detention. Additionally, Respondents must provide Petitioner with a printed copy of this Order granting his habeas petition and ordering his release from custody. Finally, Respondents must notify the Court of the status of Petitioners release and certify in writing that Petitioner has been provided with a copy of this Order and any identification documents by 5 P.M. Central Standard Time (CST) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Signed by Judge Diana Saldana) Parties notified. (rlt5) (Entered: 03/02/2026)

#25

Mar 04, 2026

NOTICE Advisory on release by Pam Bondi, Leticia Diaz, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, filed. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit) (Bastian, Christopher) (Entered: 03/04/2026)

#27

Mar 18, 2026

Mail Returned Undeliverable as to Malekzada Shir Kahn re: 24 Memorandum and Order,,,,, filed. (rlt5) (Entered: 03/18/2026)

#28

Apr 03, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt Returned