Western District of Pennsylvania • 3:26-cv-00720

#1

Apr 17, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Filing fee, including Administrative fee, $5, receipt number APAWDC-9514592), filed by S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Exhibit A - Birth Certificate SZH, # 4 Exhibit B - News Articles, # 5 Exhibit C - Death Certificate, # 6 Exhibit D - Guardianship Order, # 7 Exhibit E - USCIS Receipt Notices, # 8 Exhibit F - Law Enforcement Certification, # 9 Exhibit G - 2025 Interim Guidance Document) (Cooper, Sean) (Entered: 04/17/2026)

#2

Apr 17, 2026

MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Cooper, Sean) (Entered: 04/17/2026)

#3

Apr 20, 2026

CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER: The Court orders as follows: 1. Service. Petitioner's counsel shall serve Respondents with a copy of this order and the Petition via a single e-mail at: usapaw.civ.imm.2241.moshannon@usdoj.gov. The subject line of the email shall contain the case caption and case number of this case. If the Petition contains voluminous exhibits, they need not be emailed. The email service shall be deemed sufficient to accomplish formal service of the Petition. No other documents, pleadings, or motions may be emailed to this email address. 2. Certificate of compliance of service. Upon completion of service via e-mail as reflected in Paragraph 1, Petitioner's counsel shall file a notice of compliance, certifying the date and time of service. 3. Respondents' counsel notice of appearances. Counsel for Respondents shall file a notice of appearance within 3 days of the filing of Petitioner's Certificate of Compliance of Service. 4. Respondents' responses to the petition. Respondents shall file any responses or answers to the petition within 30 days of the date of service. Responses are limited to 25 pages, double-spaced. 5. Petitioner's reply in support of the petition. Petitioner shall file any reply in support of the petition within 5 days of the filing of Respondents' response to the petition. The Reply is limited to 5 pages, double-spaced. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 4/20/2026. (dlg) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

#4

Apr 20, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Court having received a 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order, the Court hereby requests that Petitioner supplement his filing to inform the Court under what statute he is being detained, specifically whether he is subject to a final order of removal under 8 U.S.C. Section 1231. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 4/20/2026. Text-only entry; no PDF document will issue. This text-only entry constitutes the Order of the Court or Notice on the matter. (cag) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

#5

Apr 20, 2026

CERTIFICATE of Compliance re 3 Case Management Order,,,,, by Sean M Cooper on behalf of S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA (Cooper, Sean) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

#6

Apr 20, 2026

SUPPLEMENT by S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA to 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus,,. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit H - EOIR ACIS Print Out) (Cooper, Sean) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

#7

Apr 20, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Adam N. Hallowell on behalf of ODD BLANCHE, JOSEPH B. EDLOW, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, TODD LYONS, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, LEONARD ODDO, JOHN E. RIFE, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Hallowell, Adam) Modified text on 4/20/2026. (cel) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

#8

Apr 20, 2026

ORDER - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that in the interest of judicial efficiency and to preserve the status quo, the Court Orders that Respondents not remove Zavala Almanza from the United States until further order of this Court. Because this Court lacks jurisdiction to enjoin Respondents from transferring Petitioner Zavala Almanza, it will DENY Petitioner's request for a T.R.O. as it applies to enjoining a transfer to another facility. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall file and serve a written response to Petitioner's filing at ECF No. 2 no later than 4:30 PM on April 27, 2026. Aside from any other arguments Respondents wish to make, they shall specifically address: A. The status of Petitioner's immigration case; B. Under what stature Petitioner is being detained, specifically whether he is subject to a final order of removal under 8 U.S.C. Section 1231 or whether he is entitled to a bond redetermination hearing in accord with 8 U.S.C. Section 1226(a); C. The status of and impact of his "pending, actively-processing U-Visa petition"; and, D. Whether jurisdiction exists in this Court. The Petitioners may, but are not required to, file and serve a Reply to any response submitted by Respondents by 4:30 PM on April 30, 2026. The Court will schedule a hearing on the relevant filings as necessary following receipt of Respondents' response. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioners shall place security in the nominal amount of $1.00 with the Court within seven (7) days of the date of this Order. If presented as cash or check, the funds will be placed in the local Court Registry and will remain there until further order of court, and as more fully stated in said Order. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 4/20/2026. (dlg) Modified text on 4/20/2026. (dlg) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

Apr 20, 2026

Order

Apr 21, 2026

Security BOND (posted, $1, receipt number APAWDC-9520561), posted by S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA. Bond posted pursuant to 8 Order,,,,,,,.. (Cooper, Sean)

#9

Apr 27, 2026

RESPONSE to Motion re 2 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order filed by TODD BLANCHE, JOSEPH B. EDLOW, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, TODD LYONS, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, LEONARD ODDO, JOHN E. RIFE, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6) (Hallowell, Adam) (Entered: 04/27/2026)

#10

Apr 30, 2026

REPLY to Response to Motion re 9 Response to Motion,, filed by S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Declaration of the Petitioner, # 2 Exhibit Letter from the DA, # 3 Exhibit Social Worker Letter, # 4 Exhibit Medical Report, # 5 Exhibit Evidence of presence in Mexico, # 6 Exhibit Relevant News Articles, # 7 Exhibit Evidence of March, # 8 Exhibit HRW Treatise, # 9 Exhibit Overview of BFDs, # 10 Exhibit Treatise in Support) (Cambria, Bridget) (Entered: 04/30/2026)

#11

May 04, 2026

MEMORANDUM ORDER - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the T.R.O. that the Court entered at ECF No. 8 is EXTENDED until Monday, May 18, 2026, at 4:09 P.M. FED.R.CIV.P. 65(b)(2). Accordingly, Respondents shall not remove Mr. Zavala Almanza from the country until that date and time, or until further order of this Court, whichever is earlier. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that counsel for Petitioners and Respondents shall appear before the Court for a Hearing on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. The Court will conduct this hearing via Zoom and will disseminate the Zoom information to counsel of record by email prior to the hearing. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Parties may submit additional briefing and/or relevant documents to support injunctive relief, if they wish. Such briefing shall not exceed twenty (20) pages, and is due to the Court on or before Friday, May 8, 2026, at 4:30 P.M., and as more fully stated in said Memorandum Order. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 5/4/2026. (dlg) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

May 04, 2026

Set/Reset Hearings: Immigration Hearing set for 5/13/2026, at 3:00 PM before Judge Stephanie L. Haines. (dlg)

#12

May 08, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Casey Martinez on behalf of TODD BLANCHE, JOSEPH B. EDLOW, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, TODD LYONS, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, LEONARD ODDO, JOHN E. RIFE, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Martinez, Casey) (Entered: 05/08/2026)

#13

May 08, 2026

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Cambria, Bridget) (Entered: 05/08/2026)

#14

May 08, 2026

BRIEF in Support re 13 Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by S Z H, ERASMO ZAVALA ALMANZA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Request for Expedited BFD, # 2 Exhibit January 2025 Guidance, # 3 Exhibit December 2021 Guidance, # 4 Exhibit June 2011 Guidance) (Cambria, Bridget) (Entered: 05/08/2026)

#15

May 14, 2026

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 5/13/2026: Court convened for a hearing on Petitioner's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order ("TRO") by zoom at 3:00 PM. The Court heard argument and will issue an opinion in due course. Court adjourned. (Court Reporter: Shirley Hall) (dlg) (Entered: 05/14/2026)

#16

May 14, 2026

MEMORANDUM ORDER - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the T.R.O. that the Court entered at ECF No. 8 is EXTENDED until Monday, June 1, 2026, at 4:09 P.M. FED.R.CIV.P. 65(b)(2). Accordingly, Respondents shall not remove Mr. Zavala Almanza from the country until that date and time, or until further order of this Court, whichever is earlier. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that counsel for Respondents shall provide to the Court its Response to Petitioners' Motion for Preliminary Injunction (ECF No. 13 ) on or before Thursday, May 21, 2026. Respondents shall include along with their Brief any evidence or legal argument they have to support that Petitioner never departed the United States and that his final order of removal remains unexecuted. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Petitioners may submit a Reply, if they wish. Such briefing shall not exceed twenty (20) pages, and is due to the Court on or before Monday, May 25, 2026, and as more fully stated in said Memorandum Order. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 5/14/2026. (dlg) (Entered: 05/14/2026)

#17

May 15, 2026

MOTION to Stay Briefing on the Petitions and Complaint Pending Consideration of the Petitioners Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (ECF Nos. 13 & 14) by TODD BLANCHE, JOSEPH B. EDLOW, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, TODD LYONS, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, LEONARD ODDO, JOHN E. RIFE, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Martinez, Casey) (Entered: 05/15/2026)

#18

May 19, 2026

ORDER granting 17 Respondents' Motion to Stay Briefing on the Petitions and Complaint Pending Consideration of the Petitioner's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all deadlines for briefing and responses, apart from briefing related to the Preliminary Injunction as ordered at ECF No. 16, are STAYED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the Court will hold a Scheduling Conference and issue a new Case Management Order should it become necessary for Respondents to file a Response to Petitioner's Petitions and Complaint filed at ECF No. 1 . Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 5/19/2026. (dlg) (Entered: 05/19/2026)

#21

May 29, 2026

OPINION - For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Petitioner's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (ECF No. 13 ) and PETITIONER ZAVALA ALMANZA SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY RELEASED FROM DETENTION. Given that the same relief was sought in the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 1 ), the Court likewise GRANTS the Petition. An appropriate Order follows, and as more full detailed in said Opinion. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 5/29/2026. (dlg)

#22

May 29, 2026

Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for TRO

#23

May 29, 2026

Judgment (Rule 58)

#24

Jun 02, 2026

Order