Western District of New York • 1:26-cv-00510

#1

Mar 18, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus CUSTODY STATUS ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANYWDC-5757138.), filed by KHOUNA BABA AHMED. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(El Nemr, Kareem) (Entered: 03/18/2026)

#2

Mar 19, 2026

TEXT ORDER re: 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. This Court has issued Decision and Orders in Quituizaca Quituisaca v. Bondi, et al., No. 25-cv-6527, 2025 WL 3264440 (W.D.N.Y Nov. 24, 2025) and Lieogo v. Freden, et al., No. 6:25-CV-06615 EAW, 2025 WL 3290694 (W.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2025), finding that noncitizens who are present in the United States without having been admitted or paroled are not subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2) but instead are subject to detention under section 1226. In addition, this Court issued Decision and Orders in Ivonin v. Rhoney, et al., No. 6:25-CV-06673 EAW, 2026 WL 199283 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 26, 2026) and Ab-Rahim v. Marich, No. 6:26-CV-06005-EAW, 2026 WL 279113, at *1 (W.D.N.Y. Feb. 3, 2026), holding that the detention of noncitizens following expiration of parole is also governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1226, and not § 1225. The Court has also concluded based on the circumstances in these cases and a balancing of the factors under Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976), that due process requires the burden to be on the government at the bond hearing to establish dangerousness or flight risk by clear and convincing evidence. See, e.g., Lieogo, 2025 WL 3290694, at *4-5. In deciding whether the government has met their burden of proof, the IJ must consider whether less-restrictive alternatives to detention can reasonably address the government's interest in continued detention and if the IJ finds that the government has not met this burden, then in setting any bond the IJ must consider ability to pay and alternative conditions of release. Id.Accordingly, Respondents are hereby ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE on or before March 26, 2026, why, in light of those decisions, the petition in this case should not be granted to the extent that it seeks an order requiring that Petitioner receive a bond hearing at which the government bears the burden to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that Petitioner is a danger to the community or a flight risk and at which the immigration judge must consider non-bond alternatives to detention or, if setting a bond, Petitioner's ability to pay.In addition, the Court temporarily enjoins Respondents from transferring Petitioner outside this District pending a resolution of the petition because the Court finds that Petitioner's presence in the District is necessary to support the Court's resolution of the issues in the petition, including because it will enable Petitioner to fully participate in these proceedings and maintain adequate access to legal counsel. See 28 U.S.C. § 2243 ("Unless the application for the writ and the return present only issues of law the person to whom the writ is directed shall be required to produce at the hearing the body of the person detained. The applicant or the person detained may, under oath, deny any of the facts set forth in the return or allege any other material facts."). This temporary order extends to the transfer of Petitioner outside the country so as to maintain the status quo and solely so that the Court can make an informed decision about its authority to issue relief and whether any relief that it has the power to issue should be granted.Further, the Clerk's Office is directed to serve a copy of the petition and this Text Order electronically via a Notice of Electronic Filing to the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of New York at USANYW-Immigration-Habeas@usdoj.gov. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford on 03/19/2026. (JKS)Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 03/19/2026)

Mar 19, 2026

Remark: Clerk's Office sent copy of Dkt. 1 Petition and Dkt. 2 Text Order as directed. (TMK)

Mar 19, 2026

Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge: A United States Magistrate of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form (AO-85) is available for download at http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/forms. (TMK)

Mar 19, 2026

Case Assigned to Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford. Notification to Chambers of on-line civil case opening. (TMK)

#3

Mar 23, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Adam A. Khalil on behalf of Michael Ball, Pamela Bondi, William Joyce, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

#4

Mar 23, 2026

REPLY/RESPONSE to re 2 Text Order,,,,,,,,,,,,,, filed by Michael Ball, Pamela Bondi, William Joyce, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

#5

Mar 24, 2026

ORDER granting 1 petition to the extent Petitioner seeks a bond hearing. Signed by Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford on 03/24/2026. (JKS) (Entered: 03/24/2026)

#6

Apr 01, 2026

Letter filed by Michael Ball, Pamela Bondi, William Joyce, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem re bond hearing. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

#7

Apr 01, 2026

TEXT ORDER. On April 1, 2026, Respondents informed the Court that a bond hearing was held and bond was set. (Dkt. 6). The Court views the issues raised by the petition as now resolved and intends to direct the Clerk's Office to close the case, unless on or before April 8, 2026, either party objects. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford on 4/1/2026. (JKS) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

#8

Apr 01, 2026

OBJECTIONS filed by Petitioner KHOUNA BABA AHMED.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Immigration Court Bond Order)(El Nemr, Kareem) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

#9

Apr 02, 2026

TEXT ORDER re 8 Objections to Closure. On April 1, 2026, Respondents informed the Court that a bond hearing was held and bond was set. (Dkt. 6). Petitioner now contends that the Immigration Judge failed to hold a bond hearing that complied with the Court's Order, which the Court construes as a motion to enforce its March 24, 2026 Order (Dkt. 5). Responses to the motion to enforce are due on or before April 16, 2026. By that date, Respondents are also directed to provide a copy of the bond hearing transcript. Upon review of the papers, the Court will determine if oral argument is necessary and, if so, will inform the parties of the date and time. Otherwise, the matter will be deemed submitted and decided on the papers. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford on 4/2/2026. (JKS) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

#10

Apr 16, 2026

Letter filed by Michael Ball, Pamela Bondi, William Joyce, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem re extension of time to file Digital Audio Recording transcript. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 04/16/2026)

#11

Apr 16, 2026

TEXT ORDER granting 10 Letter Request for Extension of Time. For the reasons set forth in Respondents' letter, the Court grants the requested five-day extension of time to file the transcript of the bond hearing. Respondents shall file the bond hearing transcript on or before April 21, 2026. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford on 4/16/2026. (JKS) (Entered: 04/16/2026)

#12

Apr 16, 2026

Letter filed by Michael Ball, Pamela Bondi, William Joyce, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem in opposition to Petitioner's Motion to Enforce. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 04/16/2026)

#13

Apr 20, 2026

Letter filed by Michael Ball, Pamela Bondi, William Joyce, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem with transcript from bond hearing recording. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

#14

Apr 22, 2026

Letter filed by KHOUNA BABA AHMED . (El Nemr, Kareem) (Entered: 04/22/2026)

#15

Apr 23, 2026

TEXT ORDER re 14 Letter from Petitioner. Petitioner's counsel filed a letter informing the Court that Petitioner posted bond and has been released from ICE custody. The letter states that "Petitioner understands that the petition may now be closed." (Dkt. 14). Based on Petitioner's representations, the Court views the issues raised by the petition as now resolved and intends to direct the Clerk's Office to close the case, unless on or before April 30, 2026, either party objects. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford on 4/23/2026. (JKS) (Entered: 04/23/2026)

#16

May 06, 2026

TEXT ORDER. On March 24, 2026, the Court granted Petitioner's petition (Dkt. 1) to the extent it seeks a bond hearing (Dkt. 5). On April 1, 2026, Respondents informed the Court that a bond hearing was held and bond was set. (Dkt. 6). The Court issued a Text Order on April 1, 2026, directing the parties to inform the Court, if either party objected to the closure of the case. (Dkt. 7). Petitioner objected to closure, contending that the bond hearing did not comply with the Court's Order (Dkt. 8), which the Court construed as a motion to enforce its March 24, 2026, Order (Dkt. 9). Before the motion to enforce was resolved, Petitioner filed a letter stating that he posted bond and was released from ICE custody. (Dkt. 14). The Court issued a Text Order on April 23, 2026, directing the parties to inform the Court on or before April 30, 2026, if any matters in the petition remained unresolved and to date nothing has been filed. (Dkt. 15). Accordingly, the Court dismisses any remaining claims in the petition without prejudice and directs the Clerk of Court to close the case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford on 05/06/2026. (JKS)Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 05/06/2026)

#17

May 06, 2026

JUDGMENT in favor of KHOUNA BABA AHMED against Kristi Noem, Michael Ball, Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, William Joyce. Signed by Andrew W. Moeller, Clerk of Court on 5/6/2026. (TME) (Entered: 05/06/2026)