Central District of California • 5:26-cv-01342

#1

Mar 20, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in Federal Custody (28 USC 2241), Receipt No. ACACDC-41793483 for $5 filing fee. (Attorney Yunchao Song added to party Hongbo Zhao(pty:pet))(Song, Yunchao) (Entered: 03/20/2026)

#2

Mar 20, 2026

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed by Petitioner Hongbo Zhao. (Song, Yunchao) (Entered: 03/20/2026)

#3

Mar 20, 2026

EX PARTE APPLICATION for Temporary Restraining Order as to immediate release of the petitioner Hongbo Zhao. (Song, Yunchao) (Entered: 03/20/2026)

#4

Mar 23, 2026

NOTICE OF REFERENCE to a U.S. Magistrate Judge. This case has been assigned to the calendar of the Honorable District Judge Michelle Williams Court and referred to Magistrate Judge Pedro V. Castillo, who is authorized to consider preliminary matters and conduct all further hearings as may be appropriate or necessary. Pursuant to Local Rule 83-2.4, the Court must be notified within five (5) days of any address change. See notice for additional details. (jtil) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

#5

Mar 23, 2026

MINUTES (IN CHAMBERS) Order Setting Briefing Schedule as to Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order (Dkt. 3) by Judge Michelle Williams Court. Having reviewed Hongbo Zhao's ("Petitioner") ex parte application for a temporary restraining order (Dkt. 3, "Application"), the Court ORDERS as follows: 1. Petitioner may not be removed from the Central District of California pending further order of the Court. Respondents are cautioned that sanctions may be imposed if Respondents take any action impairing Petitioners ability to obtain complete relief. 2. Respondents shall file an opposition no later than end of day on March 25, 2026. 3. Petitioner shall file a reply no later than end of day on March 27, 2026. 4. Unless the Court orders otherwise, Petitioners Application will be deemed submitted, without oral argument, on either: a. the day the opposition is filed, or due and not filed; or b. the day any reply to the opposition is filed, or due and not filed. The Court may order further briefing or other proceedings, at any time, as appropriate. 5. Petitioners counsel shall forthwith provide notice of this Order to Respondents and file a proof of service no later than March 26, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (aco) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

#6

Mar 25, 2026

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Hunter Byron Thomson counsel for Respondents PAMELA BONDI, TODD M LYONS, KRISTI NOEM, ERNESTO SANTACRUZ, JR., Warden of DESERT VIEW FACILITY. Adding Hunter B. Thomson as counsel of record for Warden of Desert View Facility, Ernesto Santacruz Jr.,Todd M. Lyons, Pamela Bondi, Kristi Noem for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Respondents Warden of Desert View Facility, Ernesto Santacruz Jr., Todd M. Lyons, Pamela Bondi, Kristi Noem. (Attorney Hunter Byron Thomson added to party PAMELA BONDI(pty:res), Attorney Hunter Byron Thomson added to party TODD M LYONS(pty:res), Attorney Hunter Byron Thomson added to party KRISTI NOEM(pty:res), Attorney Hunter Byron Thomson added to party ERNESTO SANTACRUZ, JR.(pty:res), Attorney Hunter Byron Thomson added to party Warden of DESERT VIEW FACILITY(pty:res))(Thomson, Hunter) (Entered: 03/25/2026)

#7

Mar 25, 2026

RESPONSE filed by Respondents PAMELA BONDI, TODD M LYONS, KRISTI NOEM, ERNESTO SANTACRUZ, JR., Warden of DESERT VIEW FACILITYto Minutes of In Chambers Order/Directive - no proceeding held,,,,, 5 (Thomson, Hunter) (Entered: 03/25/2026)

#8

Mar 26, 2026

REPLY in support of Petitioner's Ex parte motion EX PARTE APPLICATION for Temporary Restraining Order as to immediate release of the petitioner 3 filed by Petitioner Hongbo Zhao. (Song, Yunchao) (Entered: 03/26/2026)

#9

Mar 26, 2026

(IN CHAMBERS) ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER'S EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (DKT. 3 ) by Judge Michelle Williams Court. For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS the Application and ORDERS as follows: Respondents must release Petitioner immediately under the same conditions Petitioner was subject to prior to his January 7, 2026, detention. When releasing Petitioner, Respondents must return any property seized from him in the course of his arrest and detention, including his identity documents. Respondents are enjoined from re-detaining Petitioner without providing notice and a pre-deprivation hearing. Respondents are enjoined from transferring Petitioner outside of the Central District of California pending final resolution of his case. The Court ORDERS Respondents to show cause, in writing, no later than 7 days after this Order as to why a preliminary injunction should not issue. Petitioner may file a response no later than 7 days after Respondents' filing. IT IS SO ORDERED. (See document for further details) (yl) (Entered: 03/26/2026)

Mar 26, 2026

Temporary Restraining Order