Active
Case Information
Filed: April 21, 2026
Assigned to:
Mary Susan McElroy
Referred to:
Amy E. Moses
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause:
8:1105(a) Aliens: Habeas Corpus to Release INS Detainee
Active
Last Activity:
May 20, 2026
Parties:
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Docket Entries
#1
Apr 21, 2026
PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5.00 receipt number ARIDC-2268015.), filed by Leaford Watler. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, Notice to Appear, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Ciachurski, Julia) (Entered: 04/21/2026)
Main Document:
Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus-New Case
#3
Apr 21, 2026
ORDER re 1 PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Leaford Watler. To give the Court time to consider the pending petition, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the petitioner shall not be moved outside the District of Rhode Island without providing the Court with at least 72 hours advance notice of the move and the reason therefore. Any such 72- hour notice period shall commence at the date and time such notice is filed and expire 72 hours later, except [i]f the period would end on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the same time on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a)(2)(C). So Ordered by District Judge Mary S. McElroy on 4/21/2026. (Simoncelli, Michael) (Entered: 04/21/2026)
Main Document:
Order - 72 Hour Habeas Order (Form Attached)
Apr 21, 2026
Case assigned to District Judge Mary S. McElroy and Magistrate Judge Amy E. Moses. (Simoncelli, Michael)
Apr 21, 2026
Case Assigned/Reassigned
Apr 22, 2026
Order
Apr 22, 2026
TEXT ORDER: The Government is directed to respond to 1 PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus on or before 4/27/2026 by 12:00 pm. So Ordered by District Judge Mary S. McElroy on 4/22/2026. (Potter, Carrie)
#4
Apr 27, 2026
Response to Motion
Main Document:
Response to Motion
May 18, 2026
Notice of Hearing on Motion
#5
May 19, 2026
Seal
Main Document:
Seal
May 20, 2026
Motion Hearing
May 20, 2026
Order on Motion to Seal
May 20, 2026
Order on Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
May 20, 2026
TEXT ORDER. Before the Court is Leaford Watler's Petition for habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (ECF No. 1 .) Upon review, the Court agrees with the Respondents that this case presents the same legal issues considered in Tomas Elias v. Hyde, 25-cv-540-JJM-AEM, and the Court reaches the same result here. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the Petitioner's habeas petition (ECF No. 1 ) as follows. The Respondents are ORDERED to provide the Petitioner with a bond hearing before an Immigration Judgment pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) within seven (7) days of this Order. The Respondents are ordered to provide the Petitioner and his attorney with adequate notice of the date and time of that hearing. Finally, the Court ORDERS the Respondents to file a status report within one (1) day of the Petitioner's bond hearing, stating whether he has been granted bond and, if his request for bond was denied, the specific reasons for that denial. So Ordered by District Judge Mary S. McElroy on 5/20/2026. (Potter, Carrie)
May 20, 2026
Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Mary S. McElroy: Motion Hearing held on 5/20/2026 re 1 PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus: T. Dean, J. Ciachirski in attendance. Court addresses and questions the parties. Court to issue text order re: bond hearing. Recess. (Court Reporter D. Veitch via Zoom at 10:50 am.) (Potter, Carrie)
May 20, 2026
TEXT ORDER granting 5 Motion to Seal. So Ordered by District Judge Mary S. McElroy on 5/20/2026. (Potter, Carrie)
Parties
Watler
Party
Wesling
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