Western District of Pennsylvania • 3:26-cv-00873

#1

May 12, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Filing fee, including Administrative fee, $5, receipt number 300001035), filed by VICENTE CAAL CAAL. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Receipt, # 4 Envelope) (bjr) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

#2

May 12, 2026

MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by VICENTE CAAL CAAL. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order, # 2 Envelope) (bjr) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

#3

May 12, 2026

MOTION to Expedite Habeas Corpus Petition by VICENTE CAAL CAAL. (Attachments: # 1 Envelope) (bjr) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

#4

May 12, 2026

MOTION for Immediate Release by VICENTE CAAL CAAL. (Attachments: # 1 Envelope) (bjr) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

#5

May 12, 2026

MOTION for Stay of Removal with Reentry Clause by VICENTE CAAL CAAL. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order, # 2 Envelope) (bjr) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 12, 2026

Judge Stephanie L. Haines added. (bjr)

#6

May 14, 2026

TEXT ORDER. Petitioner's 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order is DENIED. In his Motion, Petitioner seeks to enjoin Respondents from transferring him outside of the Western District of Pennsylvania. The Court lacks authority to enjoin transfer as the places of detention for aliens pending removal is left to the discretion of the Attorney General, 8 U.S.C. § 1231(g)(1), and Congress has "limited federal district courts' jurisdiction to review decisions or actions made pursuant to the sound discretion of DHS officials[.]" Jane v. Rodriguez, No. 20-CV-5922 (ES), 2020 WL 10140953, at *1 (D.N.J. May 22, 2020); see also Sinclair v. Attorney General of U.S., 198 F. Appx 218, 222 n.3 (3d Cir. 2006). Petitioner also seeks to enjoin Respondents from removing him from the United States including removal to a third county. This Court lacks authority to grant Petitioner's request to stay removal dependent upon on Petitioner's detention status. Congress has "limited federal district courts' jurisdiction to review decisions or actions made pursuant to the sound discretion of DHS officials[.]" Jane v. Rodriguez, No. CV 20-5922 (ES), 2020 WL 10140953, at *1 (D.N.J. May 22, 2020). 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii) provides that "no court shall have jurisdiction to review any decision or action of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority for which is specified under this subchapter to be in the discretion of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security....". See also 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(9), 1252(g), and the recent Third Circuit decision in Khalil v. President, United States, No. 25-2162, 2026 WL 111933, at *1 (3d Cir. Jan. 15, 2026) ("Our conclusion about habeas jurisdiction requires us to answer a second question: Did the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) strip the New Jersey District Court of subject matter jurisdiction? It did. Because the INA channels '[j]udicial review of all questions of law arising from any action taken or proceeding brought to remove an alien from the United States' into a single petition for review filed with a federal court of appeals, we hold that the District Court lacked jurisdiction over Khalil's removal proceedings 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(9)). See Calla-Collado v. Attorney General of U.S., 663 F.3d 680, 685 (3d Cir. 2011) ("Congress has vested the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") with authority to enforce the nation's immigration laws.") Therefore, the Court denies Petitioner's Motion at ECF No. 3. For these same reasons Petitioner's 4 Motion for Immediate Release and Petitioner's 5 Motion for Stay of Removal are also DENIED. As to Petitioner's claims as to the conditions of his confinement, those claims are not properly brought in a Habeas Petition. Petitioner's 3 Motion to Expedite Habeas Corpus is hereby GRANTED and a Case Management Order will be docketed forthwith. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 5/14/2026. 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: 05/14/2026)

#7

May 14, 2026

CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER: The Court orders as follows: 1. Service. The Court hereby notifies Petitioner that copies of this order and the Petition were emailed by the Court to the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania this day. This email service is deemed sufficient to accomplish formal service of the Petition on Respondents. 2. Respondents' counsel notice of appearances. Counsel for Respondents shall file a notice of appearance within 3 days of this date. 3. 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. 4. Petitioner's reply in support of the petition. Petitioner shall file any reply in support of the petition within 8 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 5/14/2026. (dlg) (Entered: 05/14/2026)

May 14, 2026

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief AND Order on Motion for TRO AND Order on Motion to Expedite AND Order on Motion to Stay

#8

May 15, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Kelly M. Locher on behalf of FIELD OFFICE DIRECTOR, ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL OPERATIONS, PHILADELPHIA FIELD OFFICE, TODD M. LYONS, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, KURT WOLFORD. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service) (Locher, Kelly) (Entered: 05/15/2026)

#11

Aug 14, 2026

MEMORANDUM OPINION - For the reasons set forth herein, it is hereby ORDERED as follows: 1. The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, ECF No. 1 , is DENIED to the extent Petitioner seeks immediate release from immigration custody or another individuali zed bond hearing. 2. To the extent Petitioner seeks affirmative relief requiring Respondents to alter the conditions of his confinement, those claims are DISMISSED without prejudice to Petitioner pursuing any otherwise available relief through an app ropriate civil action. 3. Petitioner's remaining requests for habeas relief are DENIED. 4. This disposition addresses Petitioner's detention on the record presently before the Court and does not foreclose a future challenge based on materia lly different circumstances arising after the adjudication of this Petition. 5. With no further action required by the Court at this time, the Clerk of Court shall mark this matter closed, and as more fully stated in the Memorandum Opinion. Signed by Judge Stephanie L. Haines on 8/14/2026. (dlg)

#12

Aug 14, 2026

Judgment (Rule 58)