Eastern District of New York • 2:26-cv-00986

#1

Feb 19, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus filing fee $ 5, receipt number ANYEDC-19927833, filed by Jose A. Mejia-Pina. Was the Disclosure Statement on Civil Cover Sheet completed -No (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet) (Molina-Nunez, Brigitte) Modified on 2/19/2026 (LJ). (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#2

Feb 19, 2026

This attorney case opening filing has been checked for quality control. See the attachment for corrections that were made. (LJ) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#3

Feb 19, 2026

STAY OF REMOVAL AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: The Parties must carefully read the full contents of the attached Order to Show Cause and comply with all directives. As set forth in the attached Order:1. The parties are ORDERED to appear before this Court for a hearing on the Petition on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 1:00 PM in Courtroom 1040 of the Alfonse D'Amato United States Courthouse, 100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, New York, 11722;2. Respondents shall produce Petitioner for in-person appearance at the hearing;3. Respondents shall submit a letter, by 12:00 PM tomorrow, February 20, 2026, addressing all of the information detailed in the attached Order to Show Cause;4. If Respondents do not take the position that the outcome of this Petition is controlled by a prior decision of this Court, Respondents must show cause why the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus should not be granted by February 22, 2026;5. Petitioner's Reply, if any, shall be filed by February 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM; 6. Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise;7. Petitioner shall not be transferred except to a facility within this District, the Southern District of New York, or the District of New Jersey absent further order of this Court;8. Within 24 hours of issuance of this Order, Petitioner's counsel must: (1) serve Respondents with a copy of the petition and accompanying papers, along with a copy of this Order, by email to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and by overnight mail, and (2) promptly file proof of such service on the docket. Counsel for Respondents shall promptly enter notices of appearance. The Clerk of Court is directed to email the Petition to the Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Ordered by Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury on 2/19/2026. (CQTH) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#4

Feb 19, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Service for Petition for Habeas served on Respondents on 2/19/2026, filed by Jose A. Mejia-Pina. (Molina-Nunez, Brigitte) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#5

Feb 19, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Diane C. Leonardo on behalf of Pam Bondi, Brian Flanagan, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem (aty to be noticed) (Leonardo, Diane) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#6

Feb 19, 2026

Letter Regarding Interpreter by Jose A. Mejia-Pina (Molina-Nunez, Brigitte) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

Feb 19, 2026

Order(Other)

Feb 19, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned Judges, located on our website. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. (LJ)

Feb 19, 2026

A summons was not issued for one of the following reasons: No summons provided, please submit summons. The event can be found under the event Other Documents - Proposed Summons/Civil Cover Sheet. (LJ)

Feb 19, 2026

ORDER. In their letter filing due at 12:00 PM tomorrow, Respondents shall additionally include the following:If Respondents take the position that Petitioner's detention is governed by 8 USC § 1226(a), Respondents shall inform the Court whether the Petitioner was provided a pre-deprivation bond hearing and if so, shall attach records demonstrating when and where the bond hearing was provided, what decision was reached, who made the decision, and the basis for that decision.Ordered by Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury on 2/19/2026. (CQTH)

Feb 19, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Feb 19, 2026

Quality Control Check - Summons

#7

Feb 20, 2026

Letter to the Honorable Nusrat J. Choudhury in response to the Court's order dated February 19, 2026 by Pam Bondi, Brian Flanagan, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem (Leonardo, Diane) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#8

Feb 20, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Service for Petition for Habeas and Order to Show Cause served on Respondents on 2/20/2026, filed by Jose A. Mejia-Pina. (Molina-Nunez, Brigitte) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#9

Feb 20, 2026

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER. For the reasons set forth in the attached Memorandum and Order, the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus is GRANTED. (ECF No. 1 .) Respondents must coordinate with Petitioner's counsel and thereafter release Petitioner, without any ankle monitor, into the physical care of his counsel, or another mutually agreed upon person at the earliest possible time agreed upon by the parties, but no later than 7:00 p.m. tonight, February 20, 2026. Respondents must release Petitioner with all of his belongings that are in Respondents' possession, including but not limited to identification cards, clothing, and money. Respondents shall confirm compliance with these directives, including by identifying the individual to whom Petitioner was released, in a filing on the docket by 11:59 p.m. tonight. Additionally, pending the issuance of any final removal order against Mr. Mejia-Pina, Respondents are enjoined from denying Mr. Mejia-Pina bond in any subsequent proceeding on the basis that he must be detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b), absent a change in relevant circumstances consistent with this Order.The Show Cause hearing scheduled for February 23, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Alfonse D'Amato U.S. Courthouse is therefore adjourned. The matter is held in abeyance.Ordered by Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury on 2/20/2026. (CQTH) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#10

Feb 20, 2026

Letter