Middle District of Florida • 2:26-cv-02104

#1

Jun 29, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus - Federal filed by Leonardo Sanchez Fernandez. (Attachments: # 1 Mailing Envelope)(JTM) (Entered: 07/01/2026)

#2

Jun 29, 2026

MEMORANDUM in support re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Leonardo Sanchez Fernandez. (Attachments: # 1 Mailing Envelope)(JTM) (Entered: 07/01/2026)

#3

Jun 29, 2026

MOTION to Proceed In Forma Pauperis by Leonardo Sanchez Fernandez. (Attachments: # 1 Mailing Envelope)(JTM) Motions referred to Magistrate Judge Kevin R. Huguelet. (Entered: 07/01/2026)

#4

Jul 02, 2026

ENDORSED ORDER granting 3 Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kevin R. Huguelet on 7/2/2026. (TMA) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

#5

Jul 02, 2026

ORDER to respond and show cause why the petition should not be granted. The Clerk is directed to serve the petition. Response to petition due by 7/9/2026. The Petitioner has 3 days to reply to the response to petition. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 7/2/2026. (CAW) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

Jul 02, 2026

Order on Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

#6

Jul 07, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Nicholas John Peter Meros on behalf of Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center (Meros, Nicholas) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

#7

Jul 09, 2026

RESPONSE to 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - I-213, # 2 Exhibit B - Conviction Records, # 3 Exhibit C - Notice to Appear, # 4 Exhibit D - Order of the Immigration Judge, # 5 Exhibit E - Detention History)(Saylor, Amanda) (Entered: 07/09/2026)

#8

Jul 09, 2026

MOTION to Dismiss Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit "A", # 2 Exhibit "B")(Meros, Nicholas) (Entered: 07/09/2026)

#9

Jul 10, 2026

ENDORSED ORDER denying Respondent Warden of Florida Soft Side South Detention Center's Motion to Dismiss Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Doc. 8). "The federal habeas statute straightforwardly provides that the proper respondent to a habeas petition is the person who has custody over the petitioner." Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 434 (2004) (cleaned up). While courts have recognized that immigration detainees in state-run facilities can bring habeas claims against certain federal officials, see, e.g., Masingene v. Martin, 424 F. Supp. 3d 1298, 1301 (S.D. Fla. 2020), the immediate custodian is also a proper respondent. As the immediate custodian of the petitioner, the Warden is a proper respondent to his habeas petition. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 7/10/2026. (SAP) (Entered: 07/10/2026)

Jul 10, 2026

Order on Motion to Dismiss

#10

Jul 13, 2026

ORDER. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1631, this case is TRANSFERRED to the El Paso Division of the Western District of Texas for all further proceedings. The Clerk is DIRECTED to forward the file to that District, deny any motions as moot, terminate the deadlines, and close the Fort Myers file. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 7/13/2026. (SAP) (Entered: 07/13/2026)

#11

Jul 14, 2026

CASE ELECTRONICALLY TRANSFERRED to the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division. ***Case closed. (LMF) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

Jul 14, 2026

District Transfer Out

Jul 15, 2026

Acknowledgment - Transferred case has been opened in the Western District of Texas as case 3:26-cv-01905, filed 07/14/2026. (JNB)

Jul 15, 2026

Acknowledgment - Transferred Case Opened