District of Puerto Rico • 3:26-cv-01014

#1

Jan 10, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number APRDC-9360076.), filed by PABLO LORA-SALAZAR. Service due by 4/10/2026, (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Attachment 1, # 2 Exhibit Attachment 2, # 3 Exhibit Attachment 3, # 4 Exhibit Attachment 4)(Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) (Entered: 01/10/2026)

#2

Jan 12, 2026

NOTICE OF JUDGE ASSIGNMENT: Case has been assigned to Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan. (ad) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan 12, 2026

Notice of Judge Assignment

#3

Jan 13, 2026

NOTICE of Filing Summons (Attachments: # 1 Summons US Attorney PR, # 2 Summons Ripa ICE, # 3 Summons Lyins ERO, # 4 Summons Noem DHS, # 5 Summons Bondi Attorney General) (Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) Modified on 1/13/2026 to correct event and remove restrictions as per Counsels request. (arg) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

#4

Jan 13, 2026

Emergency MOTION requesting Order filed by Raymond L. Sanchez-Maceira on behalf of PABLO LORA-SALAZAR. Responses due by 1/27/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit IJ Order No Bond)(Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

#5

Jan 13, 2026

ORDER granting: 4 "Emergency Motion Requesting Order." Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) "provides the general process for arresting and detaining [noncitizens] who are present in the United States and eligible for removal." Rodriguez Diaz v. Garland, 53 F.4th 1189, 1196 (9th Cir. 2022). Section 1226(a) provides the Government broad discretion whether to release or detain the individual and it provides several layers of review for an initial custody determination. Id. It also confers "an initial bond hearing before a neutral decisionmaker, the opportunity to be represented by counsel and to present evidence, the right to appeal, and the right to seek a new hearing when circumstances materially change." Id. at 1202; see also Doe v. Tompkins, 11 F.4th 1, 2 (1st Cir. 2021) (holding that the Government bears the burden of proving at an initial bond hearing held under Section 1226(a) that (1) a noncitizen poses a danger to the community, or (2) the noncitizen poses a flight risk). An Immigration Judge previously denied Petitioner's request for a bail hearing based on a recent Board of Immigration Appeals decision, Matter of Yajure Hurtado, 29 I&N Dec. 216, 220-28 (BIA 2025). (ECF No. 4-1 at 3). However, because Petitioner was detained under Section 1226(a), he remains entitled to a bond hearing, notwithstanding the precedent set forth in Matter of Yajure Hurtado. See, e.g., Elias Escobar v. Hyde, Civ. No. 25-12620, 2025 WL 2823324, at *3 (D. Mass. Oct. 3, 2025). The Court therefore ORDERS that the Government shall not transfer Petitioner outside of Puerto Rico until Petitioner has been granted a bond hearing; that said bond hearing shall be held no later than 1/22/2026. The Government shall inform by 1/23/2026 whether such bond hearing has been held. Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/13/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

#6

Jan 13, 2026

Summons Issued as to Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Garrett J. Ripa. Note: Counsel must print all summonses and follow the service requirements set forth by the Rules of Civil Procedure. Electronic issuance of summonses should not be construed as authorizing electronic service. (ad) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan 13, 2026

Order on Motion requesting Order

#7

Jan 14, 2026

MOTION Submitting Summons Returned Executed and Served by Priority Mail Summons Return Executed and Served by US Mail filed by Raymond L. Sanchez-Maceira on behalf of Pablo Lora-Salazar. Responses due by 1/28/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Attachments: # 1 Summons Summons Returned Executed, # 2 Summons Summons Returned Executed, # 3 Summons Summons Served by Priority Mail, # 4 Summons Summons Returned Executed, # 5 Summons Summons Served by Priority Mail)(Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

Jan 14, 2026

***SEE IMAGE ON D.E. # 7 *** SUMMONS Returned Executed by Pablo Lora-Salazar upon Pamela Bondi served on 1/14/2026, answer due 2/4/2026; Todd Lyons served on 1/14/2026, answer due 2/4/2026; Kristi Noem served on 1/14/2026, answer due 2/4/2026; Garrett J. Ripa served on 1/14/2026, answer due 2/4/2026. (arg)

#8

Jan 15, 2026

Emergency MOTION for Order to Show Cause as to Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Garrett J. Ripa filed by Raymond L. Sanchez-Maceira on behalf of Pablo Lora-Salazar. Responses due by 1/29/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Attachment 1)(Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

#9

Jan 15, 2026

Motion In Compliance with Court Order filed by Priscila M. Acevedo-Roman on behalf of All Defendants. Responses due by 1/29/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

#10

Jan 15, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Priscila M. Acevedo-Roman on behalf of All Defendants (Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

#11

Jan 15, 2026

MOTION Submitting Exhibits to Motion in Compliance filed by Priscila M. Acevedo-Roman on behalf of All Defendants. Responses due by 1/29/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Hearing Notice, # 2 Exhibit Order of Immigration Judge)(Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

#12

Jan 16, 2026

ORDER noting: 7 "Motion Submitting Summons Returned Executed. Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/16/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

#13

Jan 16, 2026

ORDER granting: 8 "Emergency Motion for Order to Show Cause." On January 13, 2025, this Court enjoined the Defendants from transferring Petitioner out of the District of Puerto Rico until Petitioner was afforded an opportunity for a bond hearing, since 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) entitles Petitioner to a bond hearing as of right. (ECF No. 5) (citing Elias Escobar v. Hyde, Civ. No. 25-12620, 2025 WL 2823324, at *3 (D. Mass. Oct. 3, 2025)). Since the subsequent bond proceedings held before an Immigration Judge were dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, (ECF No. 8 at 2), that prior Order remains in effect. Accordingly, at this time Respondents may not transfer Petitioner out of the District. The Court notes that in other recent cases where the Government has argued that there is no right to a bond hearing for individuals detained under circumstances similar to those of Petitioner, their arguments have been rejected again and again by various district courts. See, e.g., Elias Escobar, 2025 WL 2823324; Moreira Aguiar v. Moniz, 25-cv-12706, 2025 WL 2987656 (D. Mass. Oct. 22, 2025); Tomas Elias v. Hyde, 25-cv-540, 2025 WL 3004437 (D.R.I. Oct. 27, 2025); Rodriguez v. Nessinger, 25-cv-505, 2025 WL 3306576 (D.R.I. Oct. 17, 2025); Los Caballero v. Baltazar, 25-cv-3120, 2025 WL 2977650 (D. Co. Oct. 22, 2025); Barco Mercado v. Francis, 25-cv-6582, 2025 WL 3295903 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2025). In each of those cases, federal district judges granted habeas relief and ordered the Government to comply with the well-established rule that a person detained under Section 1226(a) is entitled to a bond hearing. This Court will do the same. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS 1 "Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus." Respondents are hereby ORDERED to provide Petitioner with a bond hearing under Section 1226(a) within 10 days of this Order. Respondents are further ORDERED to release Petitioner immediately pending that bond hearing. The Government shall set minimal release conditions that will reasonably assure Petitioner's appearance at the bond hearing. Respondents are further ORDERED to provide individualized reasons at the bond hearing as to why Petitioner is granted or denied bond. If Respondents do not provide Petitioner with a bond hearing under Section 1226(a) as hereby ordered, or if said bond hearing is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, Petitioner must be immediately released from detention. No later than 1/29/2026 the Parties shall file a Joint Status Report concerning (1) the results of any bond hearing that was conducted or, if no hearing was held, advise the Court of the date Petitioner was released from custody; and (2) whether any additional proceedings in this matter are required. Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/16/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

#14

Jan 16, 2026

MOTION for Reconsideration re 13 Order on Motion for Order to Show Cause, filed by Priscila M. Acevedo-Roman on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Garrett J. Ripa. Responses due by 1/30/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Related document(s) 13 ) (Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

#15

Jan 16, 2026

INFORMATIVE Motion regarding Release of Petitioner In Compliance with Court Order filed by Priscila M. Acevedo-Roman on behalf of All Defendants. Responses due by 1/30/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

Jan 16, 2026

Order on Motion Submitting

Jan 16, 2026

Order on Motion to Show Cause

#16

Jan 20, 2026

ORDER noting: 15 "Informative Motion Regarding Release of Petitioner in Compliance with Court Order." Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/20/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/20/2026)

#17

Jan 20, 2026

ORDER noting: 11 "Motion Submitting Exhibits to Motion in Compliance." Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/20/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/20/2026)

#18

Jan 20, 2026

ORDER noting: 9 "Motion In Compliance With Court Order." Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/20/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/20/2026)

#19

Jan 20, 2026

RESPONSE to Motion for Reconsideration filed by Pablo Lora-Salazar Re: 14 MOTION for Reconsideration re 13 Order on Motion for Order to Show Cause, filed by Garrett J. Ripa, Kristi Noem, Todd Lyons, Pamela Bondi filed by Pablo Lora-Salazar. (Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) (Entered: 01/20/2026)

Jan 20, 2026

Order on Informative Motion

Jan 20, 2026

Order on Motion In Compliance

Jan 20, 2026

Order on Motion Submitting

Jan 20, 2026

Summons Returned Executed

#20

Jan 21, 2026

ORDER denying: 14 "Motion for Reconsideration" Respondents advance three arguments in support of their request for reconsideration. First, Respondents allege that this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over 1 "Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus." (ECF No. 14 at 3 10). Yet Respondents never develop any argument to support this legal theory, which appears to be at odds with prior cases in which numerous district courts have exercised jurisdiction under like circumstances. See (ECF No. 13) (collecting cases). Second, Respondents allege that this case "warrants dismissal because Petitioner failed to exhaust administrative remedies with the Board of Immigration Appeals." (ECF No. 14 at 3 11). Yet this asserted ground for reconsideration suffers from the same flaws as the first: Respondents develop no argument to support this claim, which appears to be at odds with prior cases. See again (ECF No. 13) (collecting cases). Lastly, Respondents cite to three cases from other federal district courts that reach their desired result and insist that these cases are "more persuasive" than the cases on which the Court previously relied from the districts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Colorado, and the Southern District of New York. Yet Respondents never articulate why the three cases they have cited are supposedly "more persuasive." It bears noting that two of the three cases cited by Respondents were issued the same week by the same judge and are virtually identical. Calderon Lopez v. Lyons, No. 1:25-CV-226-H, 2026 WL 44683 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 7, 2026); Garibay-Robledo v. Noem, No. 1:25-CV-177-H, 2026 WL 81679 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 9, 2026). Moreover, the Court does not find the reasoning of those opinions persuasive: as the Barco Mercado Court has explained, to adopt their reasoning "would be inconsistent with how immigration law in this country long has worked, not to mention the rule of law and basic notions of due process." Barco Mercado v. Francis, 25-cv-6582, 2025 WL 3295903 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2025). Accordingly, the Court finds that Respondents have failed to satisfy the standard for reconsideration. See FDIC v. Mapfre Praico Ins. Co. of P.R., 638 F. Supp. 3d 102, 10607 (D.P.R. 2022) (Courts have discretion to grant such motions only if the moving party demonstrates (1) a manifest error of law or fact, (2) newly discovered evidence, or (3) a significant intervening change in the law). Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/21/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

#21

Jan 21, 2026

Motion In Compliance as to 13 Order on Motion for Order to Show Cause, filed by Priscila M. Acevedo-Roman on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Garrett J. Ripa. Responses due by 2/4/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Notice of Hearing, # 2 Exhibit Order of Immigration Judge) (Related document(s) 13 ) (Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

#22

Jan 21, 2026

RESPONSE to Motion filed by Pablo Lora-Salazar Re: 21 Motion In Compliance as to 13 Order on Motion for Order to Show Cause, filed by Garrett J. Ripa, Kristi Noem, Todd Lyons, Pamela Bondi filed by Pablo Lora-Salazar. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Attachment 1)(Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

Jan 21, 2026

Order on Motion for Reconsideration

#23

Jan 22, 2026

MOTION to Clarify, MOTION requesting Order filed by Priscila M. Acevedo-Roman on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Garrett J. Ripa. Responses due by 2/5/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 01/22/2026)

#24

Jan 23, 2026

ORDER noting: 21 "Motion in Compliance" and 23 "Motion to Clarify." The Court agrees with Respondents that it is not the role of this Court "to monitor removal proceedings in immigration court." (ECF No. 23 at 3 12). Petitioner is correct, however, that the Government has expressly reserved the right to argue on administrative appeal that the Immigration Court lacked jurisdiction to impose bond. (ECF No. 22-1 at 2-3 8). Accordingly, the Court will retain jurisdiction over this case for the limited purpose of ensuring that its orders are observed. (ECF No. 13) (granting habeas relief and ordering the Government to comply with the well-established rule that a person detained under Section 1226(a) is entitled to a bond hearing). Specifically, the Court reiterates its Order that "[i]f Respondents do not provide Petitioner with a bond hearing under Section 1226(a) as hereby ordered, or if said bond hearing is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, Petitioner must be immediately released from detention." (ECF No. 13) (emphasis added). That Order remains in full force and effect. The parties shall file a status report with the Court within 30 days. This case will be closed only when the opportunity for administrative appeal of the bond hearing has expired or has otherwise been exhausted. Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 1/23/2026. (ao) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

Jan 23, 2026

Order AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

#25

Feb 23, 2026

STATUS REPORT by Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Garrett J. Ripa. (Acevedo-Roman, Priscila) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

#26

Feb 23, 2026

Motion In Compliance filed by Raymond L. Sanchez-Maceira on behalf of Pablo Lora-Salazar. Responses due by 3/9/2026. NOTE: Pursuant to FRCP 6(a) an additional three days does not apply to service done electronically. (Sanchez-Maceira, Raymond) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

#27

Feb 24, 2026

ORDER noting and granting: 26 "Motion In Compliance." Case is dismissed without prejudice. Judgment shall be entered accordingly. Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 2/24/2026. (ao) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

#28

Feb 24, 2026

JUDGMENT is entered DISMISSING this action WITHOUT PREJUDICE. This case is now closed for statistical purposes. Signed by Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan on 2/24/2026. (ao) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb 24, 2026

Order on Motion In Compliance