Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-01454

#1

Feb 19, 2026

PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against Sergio Albarran, PAM BONDI, Christopher Chestnut, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem by F. M.R.. (Filing fee $ 5, receipt number ACAEDC-12928879) (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Affidavit, # 3 Exhibit 1, # 4 Exhibit 2, # 5 Exhibit 3, # 6 Exhibit 4, # 7 Exhibit 5, # 8 Civil Cover Sheet)(Nuno, Jacqueline) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#2

Feb 19, 2026

MOTION for TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by F. M.R.. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Affidavit, # 3 Exhibit 1, # 4 Exhibit 2, # 5 Exhibit 3, # 6 Exhibit 4, # 7 Exhibit 5, # 8 Proposed Order, # 9 Checklist)(Nuno, Jacqueline) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#3

Feb 19, 2026

MOTION to PROCEED under a PSEUDONYM by F. M.R.. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Nuno, Jacqueline) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#4

Feb 19, 2026

PRISONER NEW CASE DOCUMENTS and ORDER RE CONSENT ISSUED. Consent or Decline due by 3/26/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Litigant Letter) (Deputy Clerk MCF) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#5

Feb 19, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Only Entry) signed by District Judge Dale A. Drozd on 2/19/2026: Pending the issuance of the court's order resolving the pending 2 motion for temporary restraining order, and unless and until the court orders otherwise, the court ORDERS that respondents shall not take any action to remove petitioner from the United States or to move petitioner out of the Eastern District of California. See F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 604 (1966) (acknowledging the courts express authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to protect its own jurisdiction). Given the exigent circumstances present, the court finds that this order is warranted to maintain the status quo pending its forthcoming order resolving petitioner's pending 2 motion for temporary restraining order. Further, no later than tomorrow, 2/20/2026, by 5:00 PM, petitioner's counsel is DIRECTED (1) to serve respondents with a copy of the petition, motion to proceed under a pseudonym, motion for temporary restraining order, and accompanying papers, along with this order, to the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California by email at usacae.ecf2241-imm@usdoj.gov; and (2) to promptly file proof of such service on the docket. Counsel for respondents shall promptly enter Notices of Appearance. Respondents shall file a written opposition to the pending 2 motion for temporary restraining order and 3 motion to proceed under a pseudonym by 5:00 PM on Monday, 2/23/2026. In that opposition, respondents shall substantively address the impact of the court's decision in Bautista v. Santacruz, No. 5:25-cv-01873-SSS-BFM, 2025 WL 3713987 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 18, 2025) on this action, in particular whether petitioner is a member of the "Bond Eligible Class" certified in that order. Furthermore, respondents are directed to indicate in their opposition whether they oppose converting the motion for temporary restraining order into a motion for preliminary injunction. If the parties were to jointly agree upon a less demanding briefing schedule, the court will consider the parties' proposal. (Deputy Clerk JRM) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#6

Feb 19, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Service by F. M.R.. (Nuno, Jacqueline) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#7

Feb 19, 2026

CONSENT/DECLINE of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1), this document is restricted to attorneys and court staff only. Judges do not have access to view this document and will be informed of a party's response only if all parties have consented to the referral. (Anonymous) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#8

Feb 19, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Jonathan Needle for Sergio Albarran,Jonathan Needle for Pam Bondi,Jonathan Needle for Christopher Chestnut,Jonathan Needle for Todd M. Lyons,Jonathan Needle for Kristi Noem (Needle, Jonathan) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#9

Feb 19, 2026

CONSENT/DECLINE of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1), this document is restricted to attorneys and court staff only. Judges do not have access to view this document and will be informed of a party's response only if all parties have consented to the referral. (Anonymous) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

Feb 19, 2026

Minute Order

#10

Feb 23, 2026

RESPONSE by Sergio Albarran, Pam Bondi, Christopher Chestnut, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem to 5 Minute Order,,,,,,,,. (Needle, Jonathan) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

#11

Feb 25, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Only Entry) signed by District Judge Dale A. Drozd on 02/25/2026: On 2/19/2026, petitioner filed a motion for temporary restraining order (Doc. No. 2 ) and a motion to proceed pseudonymously (Doc. No. 3 ). On 2/23/2026, respondents filed an opposition to the pending motion for temporary restraining order in which they state that they do not oppose converting that motion into one seeking a preliminary injunction. (Doc. No. 10 at 3.) Respondents have also stated that petitioner "may be a member of the Maldonado Bautista class." (Id. at 2.) Nonetheless, respondents argue that petitioner is an "applicant for admission" subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2) because he entered the United States illegally and has been placed into removal proceedings" in reliance on the decision in Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi, No. 25-20496, 2026 WL 323330, at *1-10 (5th Cir. Feb. 6, 2026) (Id. at 1.) Respondent has not stated any opposition to petitioner's motion to proceed pseudonymously. Petitioner entered the United States in 2000 without inspection or any encounter with United States immigration officials. He continuously resided in the United States until 11/25/2025, when immigration officials detained petitioner after he presented himself for an interview. The court has recently explained why it finds the reasoning of the majority in Buenrostro-Mendez to be unpersuasive. Iskandar Wasef v. Chestnut, et al., 1:26-cv-01078-DAD-JDP (HC), 2026 WL 392389 (Feb. 12, 2026). The court incorporates that reasoning here. Moreover, because petitioner was within the United States when detained, the court rejects respondents' argument that he is subject to mandatory detained under § 1225(b). See Rodriguez Rascon v. Lyons, No. 1:25-cv-01787-AC, 2025 WL 3706729, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 22, 2025) (concluding that § 1226(a) applies to individuals who were detained after they were "already living in the United States."). Having considered the circumstances of petitioner's detention and the parties' arguments, the court finds persuasive the reasoning set forth in its prior order in Rangel v. Noem, No. 1:26-cv-00084-DAD-CSK, 2026 WL 73996, at *1-2 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 9, 2026), where the court held that a petitioner who was arrested by immigration authorities after having resided in the United States for several years was entitled to a bond hearing under the decision in Bautista v. Santacruz, No. 5:25-cv-01873-SSS-BFM, -- F. Supp. 3d --, 2025 WL 3713987 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 18, 2025) and the Due Process Clause. Accordingly, the court CONVERTS petitioner's motion for temporary restraining order into a motion for preliminary injunction and GRANTS it as follows: (1) Respondents are ORDERED to provide petitioner with an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge pursuant to § 1226(a) within ten (10) days from the date of entry of this order; (2) Within three days of the bond hearing, respondents shall file a status report in this case confirming that petitioner has been provided the bond hearing; and (3) Petitioner's request for a temporary restraining order requiring respondents to immediately release petitioner from respondents' custody is DENIED without prejudice. Petitioner's unopposed motion to proceed pseudonymously (Doc. No. 3 ) is GRANTED for good cause. Under the circumstances of the case, petitioner will not be required to post bond pursuant to Rule 65(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Petition for writ of habeas corpus (Doc. No. 1 ) is Referred to Magistrate Judge Chi Soo Kim for further proceedings. (Deputy Clerk JRM) (Entered: 02/25/2026)

Feb 25, 2026

Minute Order AND Order on Motion for Pseudonym AND Order on Motion for TRO

#13

Mar 11, 2026

Minute Order AND ~Util - 1 Set/Reset Deadlines and Hearings

#14

Mar 18, 2026

Answer to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus