Western District of Texas • 5:26-cv-00485

#1

Jan 22, 2026

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Filing fee $ 5 receipt number 9667), filed by Maria Guadalupe Carmona Zetina. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Receipt, # 3 Copy of Envelope).(tt) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#2

Jan 22, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by S Eli Bennett (Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 9666) by on behalf of Maria Guadalupe Carmona Zetina. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order, # 2 Receipt).(tt) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

Jan 22, 2026

If ordered by the court, all referrals will be assigned to Magistrate Judge Chestney. (tt)

Jan 22, 2026

THIS CASE HAS BEEN RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO JUDGE JASON K. PULLIAM. (tt)

Jan 28, 2026

Remark (No Doc#)

Jan 28, 2026

To be Referred to SA Mag Judge

#3

Jan 29, 2026

ORDER FOR SERVICE-- The Court hereby DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to furnish a copy of the Petition and this Order to the Office of the United States Attorney in San Antonio, Texas. Federal Respondents are ORDERED to file a response to the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus no later than February 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.IT IS FURTHER 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: 01/29/2026)

#4

Jan 29, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt of 3 Order,, 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (vl) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

#5

Jan 29, 2026

ORDER GRANTING 2 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Attorney S. Eli Bennett for Maria Guadalupe Carmona Zetina. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. Registration is managed by the PACER Service Center Signed by Judge Jason K. Pulliam. (mgr) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

#6

Feb 02, 2026

Response

#7

Feb 02, 2026

TEXT ORDER GRANTING 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Respondents have submitted an 6 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 6 Abbreviated Response and footnote 1 of 3 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. 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 February 4, 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. Respondents shall FILE a Status Report no later than February 5, 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: 02/02/2026)

#8

Feb 02, 2026

Judgment

Feb 02, 2026

Order

#9

Feb 05, 2026

Advisory to the Court

#10

Feb 11, 2026

Certified Mail Receipt