Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-02737

#1

Apr 10, 2026

PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against All Defendants by Sandeep Sagwal. (Filing fee $ 5, receipt number ACAEDC-13168911) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Girn, Sukhveer) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

#2

Apr 10, 2026

MOTION for TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by Sandeep Sagwal. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit TRO Checklist, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Proposed Order, # 4 Affidavit, # 5 Affidavit)(Girn, Sukhveer) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

#3

Apr 10, 2026

PRISONER NEW CASE DOCUMENTS and ORDER RE CONSENT ISSUED. Consent or Decline due by 5/14/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Litigant Letter) (Deputy Clerk CLA) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

#4

Apr 10, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Only Entry) signed by District Judge Dale A. Drozd on 4/10/2026: Pending the issuance of the court's order resolving the pending 2 motion for temporary restraining order, and unless and until the court orders otherwise, the court ORDERS that respondents shall not take any action to remove petitioner from the United States or to move petitioner out of the Eastern District of California. See F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 604 (1966) (acknowledging the court's express authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to protect its own jurisdiction). Given the exigent circumstances present, the court finds that this order is warranted to maintain the status quo pending its forthcoming order resolving petitioner's pending 2 motion for temporary restraining order. Further, no later than Monday, 4/13/2026, by 5:00 PM, petitioner's counsel is DIRECTED (1) to serve respondents with a copy of the petition, motion for temporary restraining order, and accompanying papers, along with this order, to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California by email at usacae.ecf2241-imm@usdoj.gov; and (2) to promptly file proof of such service on the docket. Counsel for respondents shall promptly enter Notices of Appearance. Respondents shall file a written opposition to the pending 2 motion for temporary restraining order by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, 4/14/2026. In that opposition, respondents shall substantively address whether any provision of law or fact in this case would distinguish it from this court's decision in Ayala Cajina v. Wofford, No. 1:25-cv-01566-DAD-AC (HC), 2025 WL 3251083 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 21, 2025), and other similar cases previously decided by this court, or otherwise indicate that the matter is not substantively distinguishable. Furthermore, respondents are DIRECTED to indicate in their opposition whether they oppose converting the motion for temporary restraining order into a motion for preliminary injunction and whether they oppose the court resolving the merits of the underlying habeas petition. If the parties were to jointly agree upon a less demanding briefing schedule, the court will consider the parties' proposal. (Deputy Clerk PAB) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

Apr 10, 2026

Minute Order

#5

Apr 13, 2026

CONSENT/DECLINE of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1), this document is restricted to attorneys and court staff only. Judges do not have access to view this document and will be informed of a party's response only if all parties have consented to the referral. (Anonymous) (Entered: 04/13/2026)

#6

Apr 14, 2026

RESPONSE to Petition; OPPOSITION to Preliminary Injunction and 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order; Motion to dismiss additional respondents by Respondents. (Attachments: # 1 Ex.1 Rap Sheet, # 2 Ex. 2 Warrant of Arrest)(Ahmed, Ihsan) Modified on 4/15/2026 (KLY). (Entered: 04/14/2026)

#7

Apr 15, 2026

REPLY by Sandeep Sagwal re 6 Response,. (Girn, Sukhveer) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

#8

Apr 15, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Only Entry) signed by District Judge Dale A. Drozd on 4/15/2026: On 4/10/2026, petitioner, proceeding through counsel, filed a motion for temporary restraining order seeking his immediate release from respondents' custody. (Doc. No. 2 .) On the same day, the court issued an order directing respondents to indicate whether this case is distinguishable from the circumstances addressed in the court's prior order issued in Ayala Cajina v. Wofford, No. 1:25-cv-01566-DAD-AC (HC), 2025 WL 3251083 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 21, 2025) and indicate whether respondents oppose converting the motion into a motion for preliminary injunction. (Doc. No. 4 .) On 4/14/2026, respondents filed an opposition in which they have indicated that the do not oppose converting the motion into a motion for preliminary injunction and concede that there are no material factual differences between this case and Ayala Cajina. (Doc. No. 6 at 2-3.) Here, petitioner entered the United States on or about 4/12/2023, was released into the country on his own recognizance on 4/15/2023, and was re-detained without prior notice, an explanation, or a hearing before being taken back into custody. Having considered the circumstances surrounding petitioner's entry into the United States and his recent detention, the court adopts the reasoning set forth in Ayala Cajina and concludes that petitioner's detention violates due process. Accordingly, the court CONVERTS petitioner's motion for temporary restraining order into a motion for preliminary injunction and GRANTS it as follows: (1) Respondents are ORDERED to immediately release petitioner Sandeep Sagwal, A-File No. 246-774-584, from respondents' custody; (2) Respondents are ENJOINED and RESTRAINED from re-detaining petitioner for any purpose, absent exigent circumstances, without written notice and a hearing before an immigration judge where respondents will have the burden of establishing that petitioner is either a danger or flight risk by clear and convincing evidence. Under the circumstances of the case, petitioner will not be required to post bond pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(c). The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve the California City Corrections Center with a copy of this order. The petition for writ of habeas corpus (Doc. No. 1), is referred to the assigned magistrate judge for further proceedings. (cc: ICE-California City) (Deputy Clerk PAB) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

Apr 15, 2026

Minute Order AND Order on Motion for TRO

#9

Apr 20, 2026

Order AND ~Util - 1 Set/Reset Deadlines and Hearings