District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-02112

#1

Feb 27, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus RICARDO RICKETTS ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17144513.), filed by RICARDO RICKETTS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet JS-44, # 2 Text of Proposed Order PROPOSED ORDER)(KUNDANMAL, NITA) (Entered: 02/27/2026)

#2

Feb 27, 2026

First MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order RICARDO RICKETTS by RICARDO RICKETTS. (KUNDANMAL, NITA) (Entered: 02/27/2026)

#3

Feb 27, 2026

TEXT ORDER - Currently pending before the Court is a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and an application for a TRO. ECF Nos. 1, 2. Petitioner shall not be removed from a facility within the District of New Jersey, or from the United States, without permission from this Court. The Court has authority to stay removal under the All Writs Act. See 28 U.S.C. § 1651 (permitting courts to "issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law"); F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 604 (1966) (recognizing "a limited judicial power to preserve the court's jurisdiction or maintain the status quo by injunction pending review of an agency's action through the prescribed statutory channels"); see also Dabone v. Karn, 763 F.2d 593, 597 n.2 (3d Cir. 1985). Additionally, Petitioner shall file within seven days an Amended Petition describing what relief, if any, he seeks beyond preventing his removal from the district. So Ordered by Judge Claire C. Cecchi on 2/27/2026. (jl, ) (Entered: 02/27/2026)

Feb 27, 2026

Text Order

Feb 27, 2026

Case assigned to Judge Claire C. Cecchi. (jr)

Feb 27, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

#4

Feb 28, 2026

TEXT ORDER - The Court is in receipt of information from Petitioner's counsel indicating that Petitioner was removed from New Jersey in violation of the Court's prior order. ECF No. 3. Respondents are hereby ordered to return Petitioner to New Jersey forthwith. Respondents shall also file a letter on the docket advising the Court of the status of their efforts to return Petitioner to New Jersey by March 1, 2026, at 12 p.m. EST. So Ordered by Judge Claire C. Cecchi on 2/28/2026. (jl, ) (Entered: 02/28/2026)

Feb 28, 2026

Text Order

Feb 28, 2026

Docket Annotation (public)

Feb 28, 2026

CHAMBERS NOTE - The Court received the following e-mail from Petitioner's counsel through the emergency email account : Good afternoon,I write to inform the Court that Petitioner, Ricardo Rickett's wife advised me that Mr. Rickett was transferred to Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, late yesterday evening.This transfer appears to violate the Court's Order prohibiting Mr. Ricketts' removal from the State of New Jersey. Accordingly, I respectfully request that the Court order Respondents to promptly return Mr. Ricketts to New Jersey and to immediately comply with the Court's Order.Given the urgency of the circumstances, Petitioner respectfully requests the Court's prompt intervention. Respectfully submitted, Nita Kundanmal, Esq. (jl, )

#5

Mar 01, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by KEVIN JAMES MAGGIO on behalf of PAMELA BONDI, TODD LYONS, KRISTI NOEM, RUBEN PEREZ, YOLANDA PITTMAN (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(MAGGIO, KEVIN) (Entered: 03/01/2026)

#6

Mar 01, 2026

Letter from Respondents re: Petitioner's Transfer Outside of New Jersey and Return to New Jersey. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Edward Fletcher, # 2 Certificate of Service)(MAGGIO, KEVIN) (Entered: 03/01/2026)

#7

Mar 06, 2026

Extension of Time to Amend

#8

Mar 06, 2026

Answer to Complaint

#9

Mar 09, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Amend

#10

Mar 11, 2026

Amended Complaint

#11

Mar 12, 2026

TEXT ORDER - Currently pending before the Court is Petitioner Ricardo Ricketts's petition for a writ of habeas corpus challenging his detention and seeking immediate release. ECF No. 10. The petition and accompanying declaration of Petitioner's wife indicate that his wife, an active duty servicemember in the United States Army, is experiencing a high-risk pregnancy and is due on March 14, 2026. See ECF No. 10 22; ECF No. 10-1 9-12. The Third Circuit's decision in Lucas v. Hadden, 790 F.2d 365 (3d Cir. 1986) holds that "bail may be granted to a habeas petitioner prior to a ruling on the merits of the petition" where "extraordinary circumstances" are present, id. at 367; and courts have applied this reasoning in immigration habeas cases, see Kolawole O.T. v. Ahrendt, 466 F. Supp.3d 457, 466, 470 (D.N.J. 2020) (finding that interim release was warranted based on serious mental illness and petitioner's worsening mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic); Alfonso v. Soto, No. 25CV17371 (EP), 2025 WL 3187438, at *2 (D.N.J. Nov. 14, 2025) (finding extraordinary circumstances to grant release on bail in habeas proceeding where the petitioner's daughter was gravely ill); M.M. v. Rokosky, No. 25-18547, 2025 WL 3687941, at *2 (D.N.J. Dec. 19, 2025) (ordering release of a long-term resident of the United States with serious medical conditions who was improperly detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)). In light of his wife's high-risk pregnancy, Respondents shall show cause by March 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. why the Court should not order Petitioner's immediate release under reasonable conditions pending adjudication of his habeas petition. The Court will order Petitioner's immediate release if Respondents fail to comply with this Text Order by the deadline. The Court's prior order enjoining the removal of Petitioner from this district, ECF No. 3, remains in effect. Accordingly, Petitioner's motion for a temporary restraining order enjoining his removal, ECF No. 2, is denied as moot. So Ordered by Judge Claire C. Cecchi on 3/12/2026. (jl, ) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

#12

Mar 12, 2026

Letter

Mar 12, 2026

Text Order AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

#13

Mar 13, 2026

Letter

#14

Mar 13, 2026

Exhibit (to Document)

#15

Mar 13, 2026

Order to Answer

#16

Mar 16, 2026

Reconsideration

#17

Mar 17, 2026

Proposed Order

#18

Mar 17, 2026

TEXT ORDER - The Court is in receipt of Petitioner's emergency motion for reconsideration. ECF No. 16. Respondents shall file a response by tomorrow, March 18, 2026, at 11:00 AM. So Ordered by Judge Claire C. Cecchi on 3/17/2026. (jl, ) (Entered: 03/17/2026)

#19

Mar 17, 2026

Brief in Opposition to Motion

#20

Mar 17, 2026

Reconsideration

Mar 17, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

Mar 17, 2026

Text Order

Mar 17, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 16 First MOTION for Reconsideration re 13 Letter,, 15 Order to Answer, 14 Exhibit (to Document),, Ricketts v, Soto. Motion set for 4/20/2026 before Judge Claire C. Cecchi. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (sm)

#21

Mar 18, 2026

Order on Motion for Reconsideration AND Order on Motion for Reconsideration

Mar 18, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

Mar 18, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 20 Second MOTION for Reconsideration Reply. Motion set for 4/20/2026 before Judge Claire C. Cecchi. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (ld)

#22

Mar 26, 2026

Unseal Document

#23

Mar 27, 2026

Response (NOT Motion)

Mar 27, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

Mar 27, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 22 First MOTION to Unseal Document 14 Exhibit (to Document),, filed by RICARDO RICKETTS, 13 Letter,, . Motion set for 4/20/2026 before Judge Claire C. Cecchi. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (ld)

#24

Apr 23, 2026

Letter

Apr 24, 2026

Text Order

Apr 24, 2026

Terminate Civil Case