District of New Jersey • 3:26-cv-07375

#1

Jun 18, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17558414.), filed by GUSTAVO ADOLFO MEJIA YACUE. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement, # 2 Supplement, # 3 Supplement, # 4 Supplement, # 5 Certificate of Service, # 6 Exhibit)(CHICAS, JESSICA) (Entered: 06/18/2026)

#2

Jun 18, 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 6/18/2026. (jml, ) (Entered: 06/18/2026)

Jun 18, 2026

Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order

Jun 18, 2026

Add and Terminate Judges

Jun 18, 2026

Notice of Judicial Preferences

Jun 18, 2026

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

Jun 18, 2026

Judge Georgette Castner added. (jml, )

#3

Jun 19, 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 Colombia, alleges that he entered the United States in May 2022, was immediately detained at or near the United States-Texas border at which time he expressed a credible fear of returning to Colombia and sought asylum, and was released on his own recognizance. (Id. at 2.) Petitioner subsequently met his U.S. Citizen girlfriend (who is currently serving in the military), has applied for asylum and withholding of removal, has consistently appeared for his routine U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") check-ins, and is gainfully and lawfully self-employed. (Id.) "Petitioner has no criminal record." (Id. at 6.) On June 13, 2026, ICE arrested Petitioner at a check-in and have detained him at the Delaney Hall Contract Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey. (Id. at 3.) 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. The Clerk of the Court shall forward a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1 ), the attachments to the Petition (ECF Nos. 1 -1 through 1 -6), 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 6/19/2026. (jmh, n.m.) (Entered: 06/19/2026)

#4

Jun 19, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by FRANCES C. BAJADA on behalf of TODD BLANCHE, JONATHAN FLORENTINO, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, LUIS SOTO, DAVID VENTURELLA (BAJADA, FRANCES) (Entered: 06/19/2026)

#5

Jun 19, 2026

Letter from U.S. Attorney's Office reporting Petitioner's release. (BAJADA, FRANCES) (Entered: 06/19/2026)

Jun 19, 2026

Text Order

#6

Jun 22, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Court previously ordered that Respondents release Petitioner under the same conditions, if any, that existed prior to his detention. (ECF No. 3 .) Petitioner has now been released. (ECF No. 5 .) Having granted Petitioner all available relief, no further issues remain for adjudication. The Court LIFTS its Order (ECF No. 2 ) prohibiting Petitioner's transfer from the District of New Jersey. The Clerk of Court shall CLOSE this matter. So Ordered by Judge Georgette Castner on 6/22/2026. (jmh) (Entered: 06/22/2026)

Jun 22, 2026

Order of Dismissal AND Text Order