District of Massachusetts • 1:26-cv-10878

#1

Feb 17, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (2241) Filing fee: $ 5, receipt number AMADC-11553188 Fee status: Filing Fee paid., filed by LORDSON MAVUNGU. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form)(Keefe, Joanna) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#2

Feb 17, 2026

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson. (CEH) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#3

Feb 17, 2026

District Judge Leo T. Sorokin: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. Lordson Mavungu has filed a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2241 challenging the lawfulness of his detention by immigration authorities. Doc. No. 1 . Despite filing in this Court and asserting that venue is proper here because he “is detained within the District of Massachusetts,” Doc. No. 1 ¶ 4, the petition in three places specifically alleges that Mavungu is “currently detained” at a federal detention center in Berlin, New Hampshire, and names the warden of that facility as a respondent, id. at 1, 2 (caption, ¶ 1, & list of parties). A search of ICE’s online detainee locator identifies the same federal facility in New Hampshire as Mavungu’s current location. Even if Mavungu was transported by ICE through Massachusetts after his arrest elsewhere and on his way to New Hampshire, id. ¶ 10, jurisdiction over his federal habeas petition lies in the district where he is now confined (or was confined at the time of the petition’s filing). Here, the foregoing establishes that though this Court lacks jurisdiction over this habeas petition, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire could adjudicate its merits. Accordingly, the Court hereby ORDERS that this action shall be TRANSFERRED to the District of New Hampshire, and that given the liberty interest at stake, the transfer shall happen forthwith. It is further ORDERED that, pending review and further order by the district judge assigned following the transfer, the respondents shall not move the petitioner out of New Hampshire or remove him from the United States absent 48 hours’ written notice to the District of New Hampshire.(FGD) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#4

Feb 17, 2026

Case transferred to to District of New Hampshire; Original file certified copy of transfer order and docket sheet sent to Clerk in that district. (FGD) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb 17, 2026

Notice of Case Assignment

Feb 17, 2026

Order

Feb 17, 2026

Case Transferred Out - District Transfer

#5

Feb 18, 2026

Electronic notice to counsel: This civil action has been transferred to the District of New Hampshire and assigned civil case number 1:26-cv-00118. (Danieli, Chris) (Entered: 02/18/2026)