Northern District of Iowa • 1:26-cv-00043
Cervantes Merino v. Whitmore
Completed
Case Information
Filed: February 20, 2026
Assigned to:
Leonard Terry Strand
Referred to:
Mark A. Roberts
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause:
28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)
Completed: April 16, 2026
Last Activity:
April 16, 2026
Parties:
View All Parties →
Docket Entries
#1
Feb 20, 2026
PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number AIANDC-4614328.), filed by Erick Cervantes Merino. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8, # 9 Exhibit 9) (Goettel, Katherine) (Entered: 02/20/2026)
Main Document:
PETITION
#2
Feb 23, 2026
Miscellaneous Relief
Main Document:
Miscellaneous Relief
Feb 23, 2026
Judge Leonard T Strand and Magistrate Judge Mark A Roberts added. No conflicts identified. (ksy)
#3
Mar 03, 2026
INITIAL Review Order: Clerk to send a copy of the summons, a copy of the petition, along with a copy of this order to the respondents in care of the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Respondents shall file an answer and response to the petition by 3/17/2026. Signed by Judge Leonard T Strand on 3/3/2026. (Copy to respondents as directed) (pac) (Entered: 03/03/2026)
Main Document:
INITIAL
#4
Mar 03, 2026
Summons Issued as to Pamela Bondi, David Easterwood, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Nick Whitmore. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Case Packet) (Copy to US Attorney's Office) (pac) (Entered: 03/03/2026)
Main Document:
Summons
#5
Mar 03, 2026
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE re 3 Initial Review Order. (pac) (Entered: 03/03/2026)
Main Document:
CERTIFICATE
#6
Mar 17, 2026
Miscellaneous Relief
Main Document:
Miscellaneous Relief
#7
Mar 17, 2026
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Erick Cervantes Merino re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus [AMENDED]. (Goettel, Katherine) (Entered: 03/17/2026)
Main Document:
CERTIFICATE
#8
Mar 17, 2026
ORDER granting 6 Motion to Authorize Law Student Practitioner(s) Alexander Bernard, Joel Burzacott, and Jackson Geadelmann as to Petitioner Erick Cervantes Merino. Signed by Judge Leonard T Strand on 3/17/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Sealed Certification by the Dean) (jlh) (Entered: 03/17/2026)
Main Document:
ORDER
#9
Mar 17, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance by Brandon J Gray on behalf of Pamela Bondi, David Easterwood, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Gray, Brandon) (Entered: 03/17/2026)
Main Document:
NOTICE
#10
Mar 17, 2026
RESPONSE by Pamela Bondi, David Easterwood, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (Gray, Brandon) (Entered: 03/17/2026)
Main Document:
RESPONSE
#11
Mar 17, 2026
Seal Document
Main Document:
Seal Document
#12
Mar 17, 2026
TEXT ORDER granting 11 Motion to Seal Exhibits to Respondents' Response to Petitioner's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Signed by Judge Leonard T Strand on 3/17/26. (djs) (Entered: 03/17/2026)
#13
Mar 18, 2026
NOTICE of Filing of Sealed Defendants Other Exhibit(s) re 10 Response/Reply with access to the following parties: Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, David Easterwood, Kristi Noem, Erick Cervantes Merino, Nick Whitmore. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C) (Gray, Brandon) (Entered: 03/18/2026)
Main Document:
NOTICE
Mar 18, 2026
Set Deadline: Petitioner's Reply Brief due 3/23/2026. (rjs)
#14
Mar 23, 2026
REPLY BRIEF to 10 Federal Respondents' Response to 1 Habeas Corpus Petition filed by Erick Cervantes Merino. (Goettel, Katherine) Modified links on 3/24/2026 (ksy). (Entered: 03/23/2026)
Main Document:
REPLY
#15
Mar 24, 2026
CASE Ready for Decision 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Signed by Clerk on 3/24/2026. (ksy) (Entered: 03/24/2026)
Mar 24, 2026
Case Ready for Decision
#16
Mar 25, 2026
NOTICE by Pamela Bondi, David Easterwood, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem re 10 Response/Reply Supplemental Authority (Gray, Brandon) (Entered: 03/25/2026)
Main Document:
NOTICE
#17
Mar 27, 2026
RESPONSE by Erick Cervantes Merino re 16 Notice (Other). (Goettel, Katherine) (Entered: 03/27/2026)
Main Document:
RESPONSE
#18
Apr 16, 2026
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER denying 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Petitioner's 2 Motion for Order to Show Cause is also denied as moot. Signed by Judge Leonard T Strand on 4/16/2026. (jag)
#19
Apr 16, 2026
JUDGMENT on Habeas Corpus Petition: Petition for Habeas Corpus Relief pursuant to 28 USC 2241 is denied. Judgment is entered in favor of Respondents in this case. Signed by Clerk on 4/16/2026. (jag) (Entered: 04/16/2026)
Main Document:
JUDGMENT
Parties
Cervantes Merino
Party
Whitmore
Party