Northern District of Ohio • 3:26-cv-00375

#1

Feb 13, 2026

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2241, and Declaratory Judgment against Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, Kevin Raycraft, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Filing fee paid $ 405, Receipt number AOHNDC-13522433. Filed by Jad Alwawi. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Noem, # 3 Summons Bondi, # 4 Summons Raycraft, # 5 Summons Department of Homeland Security) (Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

#2

Feb 13, 2026

Original Summons issued to counsel for service upon Attorney General of the United States, Department of Homeland Security, Secretary of the U.s. Department of Homeland Security, Director of the Detroit Field Office. (H,JL) Modified on 2/17/2026 (H,JL). (Entered: 02/13/2026)

Feb 13, 2026

Utility Event

Feb 13, 2026

Remark re Service Upon U.S. Government Defendant

Feb 13, 2026

Judge James R. Knepp II assigned to case (H,JL)

Feb 13, 2026

Random Assignment of Magistrate Judge

Feb 13, 2026

Random Assignment of Magistrate Judge pursuant to Local Rule 3.1. In the event of a referral, case will be assigned to Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes, Jr. (H,JL)

Feb 13, 2026

Remark by Clerk re Service Upon U.S. Government Defendant. If a U.S. Government agency or officer is sued, you must provide summons for that defendant, for the U.S. Attorney General (Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530) and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio (801 West Superior Avenue, Suite 400, Cleveland, OH 44113-1852). (H,JL)

#3

Feb 17, 2026

Praecipe for issuance of Original Summons on Defendants, filed by Jad Alwawi. (Attachments: # 1 Summons - U.S. Attorney, # 2 Summons - U.S. Attorney General). (Shihab, Ghassan) Modified text on 2/19/2026 (L,MI). (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#4

Feb 17, 2026

Original Summons issued to counsel for service upon U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. (H,JL) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#5

Feb 17, 2026

Order referring case to Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. for report and recommendation and issuance of any order requiring Respondent(s) to answer, service of the petition, or any appropriate order directed to this matter, pursuant to Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governing Habeas Corpus cases. Judge James R. Knepp II on 2/17/2025. (S,JM) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#6

Feb 18, 2026

Magistrate Judge's Initial Order. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2243, and for good cause, The Court orders Respondents to respond to the petition by February 26, 2026. Because Petitioner has been detained since, at least, January, 2026 and there is no allegation that he is subject to removal in the meantime, there is no prejudice from setting this day as the deadline. Petitioner may reply by March 5, 2026. If necessary, the Court will thereafter schedule a hearing. Signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. on 02/18/2026. (M,MT) (Entered: 02/18/2026)

#7

Feb 26, 2026

Response/ Answer to 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Attorney General of the United States, Department of Homeland Security, Director of the Detroit Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Declaration of Suha Peng, # 2 Exhibit B - Notice to Appear, # 3 Exhibit C- In absentia Removal Order, # 4 Exhibit D - Motion to Reopen, # 5 Exhibit E - Order Denying Motion to Reopen, # 6 Exhibit F - Notice of Appeal, # 7 Exhibit G - BIA Briefing Schedule)(Barker, Brendan) (Entered: 02/26/2026)

#8

Mar 05, 2026

First Traverse to Return of Writ filed by Jad Alwawi. Related document(s) 7 . (Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 03/05/2026)

#9

Mar 06, 2026

Order The parties' briefing in this matter raises many unanswered questions. The Court will hold argument on Petitioner's petition at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, by video. Instructions for joining by video will be separately emailed to counsel. See Order for further details regarding items the parties should be prepared to discuss. Signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. on 03/06/2026. (M,MT) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

#10

Mar 11, 2026

First Motion for attorney Eric D. Ricker to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Filing fee $ 120, receipt number AOHNDC-13567046, filed by Petitioner Jad Alwawi. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing)(Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 03/11/2026)

Mar 11, 2026

Order

Mar 11, 2026

Order [non-document] Attorney Eric D. Ricker is to supplement his motion for pro hac vice, Doc. 10, stating, as Local Rule 83.5(h) requires, "whether [he] has ever been disbarred or suspended from practice before any court, department, bureau or commission of any State or the United States, or has ever received any reprimand from any such court, department, bureau or commission pertaining to conduct or fitness as a member of the bar." Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. on 3/11/2026. (W,Su)

#11

Mar 12, 2026

Motion for attorney Eric Dennis Ricker to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Filing fee $ 120, receipt number AOHNDC-13567473, filed by Petitioner Jad Alwawi. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing)(Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

#12

Mar 12, 2026

Minutes of Proceeding and Order of hearing held on 03/12/2026. Present were Alwawi's counsel, Eric D. Ricker and Ghassan M. Shihab, and the government's counsel, Brendan F. Barker. The parties clarified the procedural posture of Alwawi's immigration case as relevant to Alwawi's habeas petition. The Court discussed the legal authority for the government's current detention of Alwawi. The government has until March 16 to submit a brief identifying the statutory authority on which it relies to detain Alwawi. Signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. on 03/12/2026. (Time: 30 minutes)(M,MT) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

Mar 12, 2026

Order [non-document] granting Petitioner's 11 Motion for appearance pro hac vice by attorney Eric D. Ricker for Jad Alwawi. Local Rule 5.1(c) requires that attorneys register for NextGen CM/ECF and file and receive all documents electronically. NextGen CM/ECF registration can be done online at www.pacer.gov. Login with your PACER credentials, go to the Maintenance tab, click Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration, select Ohio Northern District Court and then select Pro Hac Vice. If you were previously granted pro hac vice status and are already registered to file electronically, it is not necessary to register again. Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. on 03/12/2026. (M,MT)

Mar 12, 2026

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac

Mar 12, 2026

Order on Motion to appear pro hac vice AND Order on Motion to appear pro hac vice

#13

Mar 13, 2026

Supplemental Brief filed by Attorney General of the United States, Department of Homeland Security, Director of the Detroit Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Related document(s) 12 . (Barker, Brendan) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

#14

Mar 17, 2026

Report and Recommendation The Court should conclude that Alwawi's continued detention is not authorized under 8 U.S.C. § 1231. It should therefore grant Alwawi's petition. (Objections to Report & Recommendation due by 03/31/2026). Signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. on 03/17/2026. (M,MT) (Entered: 03/17/2026)

#15

Mar 31, 2026

Objection to Report and Recommendation filed by Attorney General of the United States, Department of Homeland Security, Director of the Detroit Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Related document(s) 14 . (Barker, Brendan) (Entered: 03/31/2026)

#16

Apr 03, 2026

Reply to Objections to Report and Recommendation filed by Jad Alwawi. Related document(s) 14, 15 . (Ricker, Eric) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

#17

Jun 01, 2026

Motion for temporary restraining order filed by Petitioner Jad Alwawi. (Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 06/01/2026)

Jun 02, 2026

Order

Jun 02, 2026

Order. [non-document] Telephone Status Conference set for 6/3/2026 at 11:00 AM. The conference will convene on the Court's bridge line with counsel to use the previously circulated dial-in access information at time of call. Judge James R. Knepp II on 6/2/2026. (S,JM)

Jun 03, 2026

Minute Order _ Telephone Conference

Jul 13, 2026

Order

#19

Jul 28, 2026

Order. Because Petitioner is no longer in Respondents' custody, the Court is unable to issue the writ or otherwise grant effective relief, and the Petition is thus moot. Accordingly, the 1 Petition is hereby DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Judge James R. Knepp II on 7/28/2026. (S,JM)