District of Nevada • 2:26-cv-01790
Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana v. Todd Blanche
Active
Case Information
Filed: June 11, 2026
Assigned to:
Richard Franklin Boulware II
Referred to:
Brenda Weksler
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause:
28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federa
Active
Last Activity:
August 13, 2026
Parties:
View All Parties →
Docket Entries
#1
Jun 11, 2026
MOTION/APPLICATION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis by Petitioner Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana.. (Attachments: # 1 Petition WHC)(WJ) (Entered: 06/12/2026)
Main Document:
Motion/Application Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
#2
Jun 12, 2026
NOTICE from USDC advising case against Todd Blanche, et al., has been received and assigned case number 2:26-cv-01790-JAD-BNW. (WJ) (Entered: 06/12/2026)
Main Document:
Advisory Letter Habeas only - FORM
#3
Jun 12, 2026
TRANSFER ORDER For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the Clerk of Court is kindly instructed to transfer Case No. 2:26-cv-1790-JAD-BNW to Judge Richard F. Boulware, II. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the Clerk of Court is instructed to administratively RELATE this matter to Case No. 2:25-cv-02136-RFB-MDC. Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II and Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey on 6/12/2026. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - RJDG)
#4
Jun 12, 2026
CLERK'S NOTICE that this case is directly reassigned to Judge Richard F. Boulware, II for all further proceedings. All further documents must bear the correct case number 2:26-cv-01790-RFB-BNW. (no image attached) (RJDG) (Entered: 06/12/2026)
Jun 12, 2026
Assign Judges in Civil Case
Jun 12, 2026
Case randomly assigned to District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey and Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler. Nature of Suit: 463 - Habeas Immigration (WJ)
Jun 12, 2026
Clerks Notice Reassign Judge
#5
Jun 15, 2026
ORDER APPOINTING COUNSEL - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Petitioner's Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (ECF No. 1 ) is GRANTED. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the Federal Public Defender for the United States District of Nevada (FPD) is APPOINTED to represent Petitioner. The Clerk of Court is kindly instructed to ADD the FPD to the docket as an Attorney to be Noticed using the following email address: ecf_nvchu@fd.org. The Clerk is further instructed to SEND a copy of this Order to the FPD and CJA Coordinator for this division. (Ad hoc on 6/16/2026). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the FPD must FILE a notice of appearance, or ADVISE the Court that it cannot represent Petitioner, by June 17, 2026. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Federal Respondents must PRODUCE the following records, which are relevant to the lawfulness of Petitioner's detention. Federal Respondents must PRODUCE these materials to Petitioners Counsel by June 19, 2026. (See Order for details). On or before June 19, 2026, Respondents must file a notice which indicates whether they contend Petitioner is, or is not, a Jacobo- Ramirez Class Member. (See Order for details). On or before June 26, 2026, Petitioner must file an amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus unless the FPD declines to represent Petitioner. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Respondents shall not remove Petitioner from the United States District of Nevada, absent leave of Court. The Clerk of Court is kindly INSTRUCTED to: 1. ADD the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada to the docket as an Interested Party. 2. SEND, through CM/ECF, a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1 -1), and this Order, to Counsel for Respondent John Mattos at ahesman@strucklove.com. (Ad hoc on 6/16/2026). 3. MAIL a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1 -1), and this Order, pursuant to Rule 4(i)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to John Mattos at Nevada Southern Detention Center, 2190 E. Mesquite Ave., Pahrump, NV 89060. (Mailed on 6/16/2026). Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 6/15/2026. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - GA) Text description - Modified on 6/16/2026 (GA). (Entered: 06/16/2026)
Main Document:
Order Appointing Counsel AND Order on Motion/Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
#6
Jun 17, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Bethany Balchunas on behalf of Petitioner Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana. (Balchunas, Bethany) (Entered: 06/17/2026)
Main Document:
Notice Appearance of Counsel
#7
Jun 22, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Tamer Botros Botros on behalf of Respondents Michael Bernake, Todd Blanche, Todd Lyons, Markwayne Mullin, Kerri Ann Quihuis. (Botros, Tamer) (Entered: 06/22/2026)
Main Document:
Notice Appearance of Counsel
#8
Jun 22, 2026
NOTICE Regarding Class Membership by Michael Bernake, Todd Blanche, Todd Lyons, Markwayne Mullin, Kerri Ann Quihuis, United States Immigration Customs Enforcement re 5 Order on Motion/Application to Proceed in forma pauperis,,,,,,,,, Order Appointing Counsel,,,,,,,,. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Documents Pertaining to Petitioner)(Botros, Tamer) (Entered: 06/22/2026)
Main Document:
Notice Other
#9
Jun 24, 2026
Unopposed MOTION to Extend Time (First Request) re 5 Order on Motion/Application to Proceed in forma pauperis,,,,,,,,, Order Appointing Counsel,,,,,,,, by Petitioner Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana. Responses are due by 7/8/2026. (Balchunas, Bethany) (amend) (Entered: 06/24/2026)
Main Document:
Motion Extend/Shorten Time
#10
Jun 25, 2026
ORDER Granting 9 MOTION to Extend Time (First Request). Amended Petition is due by 7/6/2026. Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 6/25/2026. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - GA)
#11
Jul 02, 2026
Unopposed MOTION to Extend Time (Second Request) re 5 Order on Motion/Application to Proceed in forma pauperis,,,,,,,,, Order Appointing Counsel,,,,,,,, by Petitioner Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana. Responses are due by 7/16/2026. (Balchunas, Bethany) (amend) (Entered: 07/02/2026)
Main Document:
Motion Extend/Shorten Time
#12
Jul 06, 2026
ORDER Granting 11 Motion to Extend Time. Amended Petition is due by 7/13/2026. Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 7/6/2026. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - GA)
#13
Jul 13, 2026
Unopposed MOTION to Extend Time (Third Request) to File Amended Petition re 5 Order on Motion/Application to Proceed in forma pauperis,,,,,,,,, Order Appointing Counsel,,,,,,,, by Petitioner Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana. Responses are due by 7/27/2026. (Balchunas, Bethany) (amend) (Entered: 07/13/2026)
Main Document:
Motion Extend/Shorten Time
#14
Jul 14, 2026
ORDER Granting 13 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Amended Petition. Amended Petition is due by 7/17/2026. Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 7/14/2026. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - GA)
#15
Jul 17, 2026
First AMENDED PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus by Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana. No changes to parties. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Index, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2) (Balchunas, Bethany) (Entered: 07/17/2026)
Main Document:
Petition Writ of Habeas Corpus Amended
#16
Jul 17, 2026
NOTICE of Manual Filing by Petitioner Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana re 15 Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Object: USB, Volume(s): 1, Description: Exhibit 1 of Bond Hearing and Exhibit 2 of Removal Hearing, manually filed with the Clerk's Office. Notice of Manual Filing (Petitioner's Exhibits 1 and 2 - Audio) (Balchunas, Bethany) (Entered: 07/17/2026)
Main Document:
Notice Manual Filing
#17
Jul 20, 2026
MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS of the Honorable Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 7/20/2026.Before the Court is Mr. Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana's First Amended 28 U.S.C. § 2241 Petition (ECF No. 15 ). The Court has reviewed the Petition, as well as Respondents' Notice Regarding Class Membership (ECF No. 8 ), and preliminarily finds that Mr. Hernandez-Retana may be entitled to habeas relief under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and/or Jacobo Ramirez v. Mullin, --- F. Supp. 3d. ---, 2026 WL 879799 (D. Nev. Mar. 30, 2026).Therefore, Respondents are ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE for Petitioner's detention. See 28 U.S.C.§ 2243. Specifically, Respondents must file a "return certifying the true cause of detention" on or before July 22, 2026. In doing so, Respondents should not re-argue their faulty interpretation of 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A), as this issue has already been litigated in, and decided by, this Court. See generally Jacobo Ramirez, 2026 WL 879799 (D. Nev. Mar. 30, 2026). With that being said, Respondents may reference their prior briefing on this issue for appellate purposes. Finally, if Respondents intend to rely on a separate source of detention authority, they must identify it in their return.IT IS FURTHER ORDERED Petitioner has up to, and including, July 27, 2026, to reply.(Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - DLQ) (Entered: 07/20/2026)
Jul 20, 2026
Minute Order
#18
Jul 22, 2026
NOTICE Federal Respondents Supplemental Notice Regarding Class Membership (ECF No. 1-1) by Michael Bernake, Todd Blanche, Todd Lyons, Markwayne Mullin, Kerri Ann Quihuis re 17 Minute Order,,,,,,. (Botros, Tamer) (Entered: 07/22/2026)
Main Document:
Notice Other
#19
Jul 23, 2026
REPLY to 15 Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by Petitioner Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana. (Balchunas, Bethany) (Entered: 07/23/2026)
Main Document:
Reply
#20
Jul 31, 2026
MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS of the Honorable Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 7/31/2026. This Court ordered Respondents file a "return certifying the true cause of detention" on or before July 22, 2026. See ECF No. 17. Prior to that, the Court ordered the following: "If Respondents contend that Petitioner is not a class member, then [Respondents] must identify the statutory authority which authorizes Petitioner's detention." ECF No. 5 at 4. In their subsequent filings, Respondents have asserted Petitioner is not a Class Member and made mention of both 8 U.S.C. §§ 1225 and 1226, without clearly indicating which specific statutory provision they allege authorizes Petitioner's detention and why. See generally ECF Nos. 8, 18. Thus, the Court once more ORDERS Respondents to, on or before August 3, 2026, file a "return certifying the true cause of detention," i.e., a filing asserting Respondents' position on which of the INA's statutory detention provisions applies and authorizes Petitioner's detention, if any. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - CMB) (Entered: 07/31/2026)
Jul 31, 2026
Minute Order
#21
Aug 03, 2026
Notice Other
Main Document:
Notice Other
Aug 07, 2026
Minute Order
#23
Aug 09, 2026
Response
Main Document:
Response
#24
Aug 09, 2026
Motion in Water Case
Main Document:
Motion in Water Case
Aug 10, 2026
Minute Order
#26
Aug 13, 2026
Reply
Main Document:
Reply
#27
Aug 13, 2026
Response
Main Document:
Response
Parties
Jonathan Jair Hernandez-Retana
Party
Todd Blanche
Party