Western District of Missouri • 6:25-cv-03317

#6

Oct 02, 2025

ORDER AMENDED GENERAL ORDER 25-0024: GENERAL ORDER HOLDING IN ABEYANCE: CIVIL MATTERS INVOLVING THE UNITED STATES AS A PARTY: This matter is before the Court due to the lapse of congressional appropriations funding the federal government, including the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Office. Absent an appropriation, the United States represents that certain Department of Justice attorneys and employees of the federal government are prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, except in very limited circumstances, including "emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property." 31 U.S.C. § 1342. Therefore, the lapse in appropriations requires a reduction in the workforce of the United States Attorney's Office and other federal agencies, particularly with respect to prosecution and defense of civil cases. The Court, in response, and with the intent to avoid any default or prejudice to the United States or other civil litigants occasioned by the lapse in funding, sua sponte enters this General Order. As a result of the cited workforce reductions, it is hereby ORDERED, effective October 1, 2025, that all civil litigation involving as a party the United States of America, its agencies, its officers or employees (whether in their individual or official capacity and whether current or former employees), and/or any other party represented by the Department of Justice or the United States Attorney's Office is immediately suspended, postponed, and held in abeyance continuing until funding for federal government operations is fully restored. The Court may renew or modify this General Order depending on developments in the stay period. The Court intends "civil litigation" to include all pending non-criminal cases in which the United States, its agencies, its officers or employees (whether in their individual or official capacity and whether current or former employees) is in any way a named party and any non-criminal cases in which the United States Attorney's Office or the Department of Justice is counsel of record. This includes, without limitation, all pending Social Security cases and all cases seeking monetary or equitable relief in which the United States is involved as a civil litigant. The General Order does not affect habeas corpus cases pending or filed under Chapter 153 of Title 28. This General Order suspends and continues, during the stay, any and all events and deadlines in the affected civil litigation (whether established by order, rule, or agreement), including but not limited to any scheduled proceedings, hearings, and/or discovery and pleading dates. No party will be required to take any steps in civil litigation affected until expiration of the stay. The Court warns litigants that this General Order does not purport to affect rights to, or deadlines concerning, appeal from any decision of this Court, which will continue to operate and issue orders in the normal course. Any litigant affected by this General Order may seek relief from the order by motion. The Court may, in any particular case, vary the effect or operation of this General Order by a separate order. The Court shall distribute this General Order: (a) by electronic service to all registered CM/ECF users; (b) by first-class mail to unregistered civil litigants, including pro se litigants, and to attorneys pending pro hac vice admission; and (c) by posting the General Order on the Court's public website. This General Order does not operate as a stay of any injunction or restraining order entered by any judge of this court. The Court shall clarify the status of case schedules upon expiration of the stay and dependent on the timing of the funding resolution. Signed by the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall on 10/2/2025. Mailed notice.(nh, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/03/2025)

#1

Oct 31, 2025

PETITION for writ of habeas corpus filed by Juan Vargas against All Parties Filing fee $ 5, receipt number AILNDC-24287967. (Gunn, Jeffrey) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 10/31/2025)

#2

Oct 31, 2025

CIVIL Cover Sheet (Gunn, Jeffrey) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 10/31/2025)

#3

Oct 31, 2025

ATTORNEY Appearance for Petitioner Juan Vargas (Gunn, Jeffrey) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 10/31/2025)

Oct 31, 2025

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (gmc, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.]

Oct 31, 2025

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Manish S. Shah. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Jeannice W. Appenteng. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (gmc, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.]

#4

Nov 03, 2025

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Manish S. Shah: Petitioner seeks a writ of habeas corpus but argues that the petition is not a core habeas petition that must be filed in the district of confinement. 1 at 5-6 (citing Caceres Molina v. Joyce, Preiser v. Rodriguez, and Mejia Olalde v. Noem). Even though petitioner seeks an order for a bond hearing and does not expressly ask for a change in his custody, he invokes s. 2241 and it seems petitioner expects the court to order petitioner's release if immigration officials decline to comply with an order to give petitioner a bond hearing. Ultimately, it seems a challenge to custody is the point of the petition. A status hearing is set for 11/4/25 at 10:15 a.m. The court expects counsel to address whether the court should transfer the case forthwith to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Southern Division. Parties to the case, members of the public, and the media, may participate in/listen to these proceedings by dialing 1-650-479-3207 and using access code 2302 545 7949. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Notices Mailed. (psm, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/03/2025)

#5

Nov 03, 2025

MAILED copy of order 4 to Tom Walsh, Craig Oswald, and Joshua Press. (psm, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/03/2025)

#7

Nov 03, 2025

DESIGNATION of Craig Arthur Oswald as U.S. Attorney for Respondents Pamela Bondi, Russell Holt, Kristi Noem (Oswald, Craig) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/03/2025)

#8

Nov 03, 2025

DESIGNATION of Joshua Samuel Press as U.S. Attorney for Respondents Pamela Bondi, Russell Holt, Kristi Noem (Press, Joshua) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/03/2025)

#9

Nov 04, 2025

DESIGNATION of Nicole Flores as U.S. Attorney for Respondents Pamela Bondi, Russell Holt, Kristi Noem (Flores, Nicole) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/04/2025)

#10

Nov 04, 2025

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Manish S. Shah: Telephone hearing held. For the reasons stated in open court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1631, this case is transferred forthwith to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Southern Division, the district where plaintiff was detained at the time he filed the petition for a writ of habeas corpus. 28 U.S.C. § 105. Notices Mailed. (psm, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/04/2025)

Nov 04, 2025

***Civil Case Terminated. (gcy, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.]

#11

Nov 05, 2025

TRANSFERRED to the Western District of Missouri (Southern Division) the Electronic Record. (gcy, ) [Transferred from ilnd on 11/13/2025.] (Entered: 11/05/2025)

#12

Nov 13, 2025

CASE TRANSFERRED IN from District of Illinois Northern; Case Number 1:25-cv-13381. (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#13

Nov 13, 2025

ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFER. Because the Petition references injunctive relief, and because all parties have not filed a consent to proceed before the Magistrate Judge, this case was placed back in the random draw for reassignment to a District Judge. Accordingly, this case has been randomly reassigned to District Judge M. Douglas Harpool for all further proceedings. The new case number is 6:25-3317-CV-S-MDH. This is a TEXT ONLY ENTRY. No document is attached. (CSB) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#14

Nov 13, 2025

AMENDED COMPLAINT against Pamela Bondi, Russell Holt, Kristi Noem filed by Rekha Sharma-Crawford on behalf of Juan Vargas.(Sharma-Crawford, Rekha) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#15

Nov 13, 2025

MOTION for leave to appear Attorney filed by Rekha Sharma-Crawford on behalf of Juan Vargas. Suggestions in opposition/response due by 12/1/2025 unless otherwise directed by the court. (Sharma-Crawford, Rekha) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#16

Nov 13, 2025

Motion to allow Jeffrey William Gunn to appear pro hac vice (Pro Hac fee $100 receipt number AMOWDC-9817759) filed by Rekha Sharma-Crawford on behalf of Juan Vargas. (Sharma-Crawford, Rekha) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#17

Nov 13, 2025

Motion to allow Carlina Tapia-Ruano to appear pro hac vice (Pro Hac fee $100 receipt number AMOWDC-9817792) filed by Rekha Sharma-Crawford on behalf of Juan Vargas. (Sharma-Crawford, Rekha) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#18

Nov 13, 2025

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 2243, Respondents are ORDERED to show cause on or before November 18, 2025, why the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus should not be granted. Petitioner shall have three days to file a Reply addressing the Response if he wishes to do so. Signed on 11/13/2025 by District Judge M. Douglas Harpool. This is a TEXT ONLY ENTRY. No document is attached. (MCB) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#19

Nov 13, 2025

NOTICE of appearance by Jeffrey P. Ray on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Russell Holt, Kristi Noem (Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray added to party Pamela Bondi(pty:res), Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray added to party Russell Holt(pty:res), Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray added to party Kristi Noem(pty:res))(Ray, Jeffrey) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

#20

Nov 13, 2025

ORDER granting 16 & 17 motion to appear pro hac vice entered by Clerk of Court. Attorney Jeffrey W. Gunn and Carlina Tapia-Ruano for Juan Vargas allowed to appear pro hac vice. This entry will serve as authorization for the pro hac participation by the attorney. Western District of Missouri Local Rule 5.1 requires documents to be filed electronically. If pro hac vice counsel has not already done so, counsel is directed to immediately register for a WDMO e-filing account for NextGen CM/ECF. This will enable counsel to electronically file documents and receive electronic notification of filings. Register for a WDMO e-filing account at PACER. This is a TEXT ONLY ENTRY. No document is attached. (CAB) (Entered: 11/13/2025)

Nov 13, 2025

Order Transferring/Reassigning Case

Nov 13, 2025

Order to Show Cause

Nov 13, 2025

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

#21

Nov 19, 2025

On 11/13/2025 this Court entered an order to show cause why Petitioner's habeas petition should not be granted. Respondents' response was due 11/18/2025. To this date, no response has been received by the Court. Respondents have until 11/21/2025 to file a response. If one is not received by the end of the week, the Court will rule on the habeas petition without the benefit of the Respondents' response. Signed on 11/19/2025 by District Judge M. Douglas Harpool. This is a TEXT ONLY ENTRY. No document is attached. (MCB) (Entered: 11/19/2025)

Nov 19, 2025

Order