District of New Jersey • 3:26-cv-06686

#1

Jun 08, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus v. Benzel, et al., ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17516166.), filed by FELIX RAFAEL SEIJAS RAUSSEO. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(DUQUE-ISERN, STEPHANIE) (Entered: 06/08/2026)

#2

Jun 08, 2026

First MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order v. Benzel, et al., by FELIX RAFAEL SEIJAS RAUSSEO. (DUQUE-ISERN, STEPHANIE) (Entered: 06/08/2026)

#3

Jun 08, 2026

TEXT ORDER. Respondents are hereby enjoined from transferring Petitioner from New Jersey pending further Order of the Court. So Ordered by Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb on 6/8/2026. (ps) (Entered: 06/08/2026)

Jun 08, 2026

Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order

Jun 08, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Jun 08, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Georgette Castner. (ps)

#4

Jun 09, 2026

TEXT ORDER: This matter is before the Court on the Petitioner's petition (Petition) for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (ECF No. 1 .) Petitioner, a native and citizen of Venezuela, alleges that he has resided in the United States since approximately 2022. (Id. Para. 1.) "Since his arrival, Petitioner had timely applied for asylum, had no criminal record, and has complied with all immigration requirements imposed on him." (Id. Para. 20; see also id. Para. 1 (further alleging that Petitioner has filed taxes and his wife is a green card holder).) On or about June 7, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Petitioner while he was working as a delivery driver in Secaucus, New Jersey, and have detained him at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. (Id. Para. 2.) Based on Petitioner's allegations and this Court's recent decisions in Chen v. Soto, No. 25-17198, 2025 WL 3527239 (D.N.J. Dec. 9, 2025), Marcilla Flores v. Rokosky, No. 25-18998, 2026 WL 84434 (D.N.J. Jan. 12, 2026), and Mistry v. Rokosky, No. 25-17647, ECF No. 15 (D.N.J. Jan. 28, 2026), the Court holds that Petitioner is subject to detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and that Respondents have unlawfully detained Petitioner under § 1225(b) in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act and his Fifth Amendment right to due process. See also Rivera Zumba v. Bondi, No. 25-14626, 2025 WL 2753496 (D.N.J. Sept. 26, 2025); Quintanar Hernandez v. Bondi, No. 26-4096, ECF No. 4 (D.N.J. Apr. 17, 2026). "Moreover, although 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) permits discretionary detention of noncitizens based on flight risk or dangerousness, it appears that Respondents have detained Petitioner under a flawed interpretation of § 1225(b)(2), which has been rejected by numerous Courts in this District; this Court will not correct Respondents' unlawful detention under § 1225(b)(2) by converting Petitioner's detention to a 'potentially lawful alternate form under a different statute with different procedural requirements and rules.'" Alvarez Hererra v. Soto, No. 26-2482, D.E. No. 6 (D.N.J. Apr. 22, 2026) (quoting Fajardo-Nugra v. Soto, No. 26-975, 2026 WL 579192, at *2 (D.N.J. Mar. 2, 2026) (granting petitioner's habeas petition and ordering his release based on respondents' flawed application of § 1225(b)(2))); see also Beteta Beteta v. Blanche, No. 26- 4132, ECF No. 4 (D.N.J. Apr. 20, 2026) (same). The Court thus GRANTS the Petition (ECF No. 1 ), and ORDERS that, within forty-eight (48) hours of the time of entry of this Text Order, Respondents SHALL RELEASE Petitioner under the same conditions, if any, that existed prior to his detention. Within twenty four (24) hours of Petitioner's release, Respondents shall file a status report confirming the time of Petitioner's release. Alternatively, if Respondents contend that Petitioner's case is legally distinguishable from those cases cited herein, or that Petitioner's detention is pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) as Petitioner has misrepresented his criminal history, they shall file an expedited answer within twenty-four (24) hours of the time of entry of this Text Order. Petitioner may file a reply within forty-eight (48) hours of the time of filing of Respondents' expedited answer. Petitioner's motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO Motion) (ECF No. 2 ) is DENIED as moot, and the Clerk of the Court shall TERMINATE the Motion pending at ECF No. 2 . The Clerk of the Court shall forward a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1 ), the attachment to the Petition (ECF No. 1 -1), the TRO Motion (ECF No. 2 ), and this Text Order to the Chief, Civil Division, United States Attorney's Office, at the following email address: USANJ-HabeasCases@usdoj.gov. So Ordered by Judge Georgette Castner on 6/9/2026. (jmh) (Entered: 06/09/2026)

#5

Jun 09, 2026

Letter from United States Attorney's Office Petitioner's Release re 4 Text Order,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Terminate Motions,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. (GONZALEZ, ALICIA) (Entered: 06/09/2026)

#6

Jun 09, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by ALICIA NICOLE GONZALEZ on behalf of JASON BENZEL, TODD LYONS(Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement), TODD LYONS(Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement), MARKWAYNE MULLIN, JOHN TSOUKARIS (GONZALEZ, ALICIA) (Entered: 06/09/2026)

Jun 09, 2026

4 Text Order and ECF No. 1 and 2 emailed to USANJ-HabeasCases@usdoj.gov on 6/9/2026. (jmh)

Jun 09, 2026

Notice of Judicial Preferences. Click here for the Judge's Individual Procedure Requirements. (jjc, )

Jun 09, 2026

Text Order AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

Jun 09, 2026

Docket Annotation (public)

Jun 09, 2026

Notice of Judicial Preferences

Jun 10, 2026

Order of Dismissal AND Text Order