District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-01336

#1

Feb 10, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus V. LUIS SOTO, ET ALL. ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17084473.), filed by JOEL PABLO MEJIA GONZALES. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(DUQUE-ISERN, STEPHANIE) (Entered: 02/10/2026)

#2

Feb 10, 2026

First MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order V. LUIS SOTO, ET ALL. by JOEL PABLO MEJIA GONZALES. (DUQUE-ISERN, STEPHANIE) (Entered: 02/10/2026)

Feb 10, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Esther Salas. (ps)

Feb 10, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

#3

Feb 11, 2026

TEXT ORDER : This matter is before the Court on the Petitioner's petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (D.E. No. 1 ("Petition" or "Pet")). Petitioner also requests an order to show cause ("OTSC") (id. at 16) and filed a motion seeking a temporary restraining order "enjoining Respondents from continuing Petitioner's detention without lawful process, transferring Petitioner from Delaney Hall, or removing him from the United States pending adjudication of his Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (D.E. No. 2 ("Motion for TRO") at 11). Pursuant to the All Writs Act, see 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a), Respondents SHALL NOT TRANSFER Petitioner from the District of New Jersey, and SHALL NOT REMOVE Petitioner from the United States, pending further order of this Court. Petitioner's request for an OTSC and Motion for TRO are DENIED as moot. According to Petitioner, Respondents are presently detaining Petitioner under the mandatory detention provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b), pursuant to the recent decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals in Matter of Yajure Hurtado, 29 I. & N. Dec. 216 (BIA 2025). (Pet. Paras. 6, 29, 48). Under this Court's recent decision in Diaz Rudecindo v. Florentino, No. 25-16942, 2025 WL 3470299 (D.N.J. Dec. 3, 2025), the Court holds that Petitioner is subject to detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), which requires an opportunity to seek bond, id. at *2-4. Specifically, it appears that, inter alia: (i) in or about May 2004, Petitioner entered the United States, at which time he was released on his own recognizance and placed into removal proceedings; (ii) Petitioner filed an Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal in September, 2024; (iii) since his release, Petitioner has participated in the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program and reported as directed, including as recently as January 26, 2026; (iv) Petitioner has no criminal record; and (v) on February 7, 2026, while in the interior of the United States, Petitioner was arrested by immigration officers as he was leaving work. (Pet. Paras. 1, 24-27). Based on these alleged facts, Diaz Rudecindo controls this present matter. Diaz Rudecindo, 2025 WL 3470299, at *4. In accordance with 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), within ten (10) days of the date of entry of this Text Order, Respondents shall provide Petitioner with an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge who shall assess whether Petitioner presents a flight risk or a danger to the community, pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 236.1(c)(8), (d)(1). Within three (3) days of that bond hearing, Respondents shall file a written notice of the outcome of that hearing with this Court. Alternatively, if Respondents contend that Diaz Rudecindo does not control, they shall file an expedited answer within seven (7) days of the date of entry of this Text Order, and Petitioner may file a reply within five (5) days of the date of filing of Respondents' expedited answer. Finally, the Clerk of Court shall forward a copy of the Petition (D.E. No. 1 ), the attachment to the Petition (D.E. No. 1 -1), the Motion for TRO (D.E. No. 2 ), and this Text Order to the Chief, Civil Division, United States Attorney's Office, at the following email address: USANJ-HabeasCases@usdoj.gov. So Ordered by Judge Esther Salas on 2/11/2026. (ek) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

Feb 11, 2026

Text Order

#4

Feb 18, 2026

Substitution of Attorney

#5

Feb 19, 2026

Letter

Feb 25, 2026

Text Order

Feb 25, 2026

Terminate Civil Case