District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-07259

#1

Jun 17, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17552986.), filed by VICTOR MARIO SANTANA GARCIA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit ICE Locator, # 3 Exhibit Decline to Prosecute, # 4 Exhibit NTA 1, # 5 Exhibit NTA 2)(CARDENAS, VERONICA) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

#2

Jun 17, 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 6/17/2026. (jml, ) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

#3

Jun 17, 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 6/17/2026. (jml, ) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

#4

Jun 17, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by JACOB HERIC on behalf of JONATHAN FLORENTINO, TODD LYONS, KRISTI NOEM, LUIS SOTO (HERIC, JACOB) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

#5

Jun 17, 2026

Letter from Respondents Regarding Petitioner's Location. (HERIC, JACOB) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

Jun 17, 2026

Add and Terminate Judges

Jun 17, 2026

Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order

Jun 17, 2026

Judge Julien Xavier Neals added. (jml, )

#6

Jun 18, 2026

Substitution of Attorney

#7

Jun 23, 2026

Letter

#8

Jun 24, 2026

TEXT ORDER - Before the Court is Petitioner Victor Mario Santana Garcia's ("Petitioner") Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ("Petition") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging his continued detention by immigration authorities without an individualized bond hearing. (ECF No. 1 .) Petitioner, a native of Ecuador, who entered the United States in February 2024 and was subsequently released into the country, contends he is unlawfully detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b). (See generally id.) Based on this Court's statutory interpretation in Caiza Guevara v. Tsoukaris, No. 26-967 (JXN) and in Fuentes Velasquez v. Noem, No. 25-16797, 2025 WL 3653657 (D.N.J. Dec. 17, 2025), the Court finds the facts asserted in the Petition establish that Petitioner cannot be mandatorily detained under the plain text of § 1225(b)(1) or (b)(2), as he was previously released into the country and was re-detained years later on the interior of the country. As such, his continued detention under that statute is unlawful. Although Respondents may have been able to lawfully detain Petitioner under a different statute, they instead detained her under § 1225(b). Accordingly, it is ORDERED that, subject to the following, Petitioner's Petition (ECF No. 1 ) is GRANTED and Respondents shall RETURN Petitioner to New Jersey and RELEASE him within seventy-two (72) hours of the entry of this Text Order, under the same conditions, if any, that existed prior to his detention. It is further ORDERED that Respondents shall return to Petitioner all personal property belonging to Petitioner - including but not limited to, any driver's license, passport, immigration documents, currency, or cellphone - that was seized at the time of detention. It is further ORDERED that Respondents are permanently enjoined from detaining Petitioner under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(1) or (b)(2), which the Court has found inapplicable to him. It is further ORDERED that Respondents shall not arrest, detain, or otherwise take Petitioner into custody under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) for a period of 14 days following her release, to ensure full effectuation of this Court's judgment and to prevent circumvention of the relief granted. It is finally ORDERED that if Respondents contend that this matter is factually distinguishable from Caiza Guevara and Fuentes Velasquez, they shall file an expedited answer to the Petition within three (3) days of the date of this Text Order, and Petitioner may file a reply within three (3) days of receipt of the expedited answer. So Ordered by Judge Julien Xavier Neals on 6/24/2026. (kd) (Entered: 06/24/2026)

Jun 24, 2026

Text Order

#9

Jun 27, 2026

Letter

#10

Jun 29, 2026

TEXT ORDER - Before the Court is Respondents' letter informing the Court of Petitioner's release from custody. (ECF No. 9 .) Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall CLOSE this matter.So Ordered by Judge Julien Xavier Neals on 6/29/2026. (kd) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

Jun 29, 2026

Terminate Civil Case

Jun 29, 2026

Text Order

Jun 29, 2026

***Civil Case Terminated. (wh)