District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-07921

CRUZ PINEDA v. SOTO

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Case Information

Filed: June 30, 2026
Assigned to: Katharine Sweeney Hayden
Referred to:
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federa
Active
Last Activity: July 09, 2026
Parties: View All Parties →

Docket Entries

#1
Jun 30, 2026
First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus to show cause ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17596803.), filed by EMERSON DANIEL CRUZ PINEDA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet civil cover sheet, # 2 Text of Proposed Order proposed order to show cause, # 3 Text of Proposed Order proposed order to show cause)(LIPSITZ, JONATHAN) (Entered: 06/30/2026)
Main Document: Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
#2
Jun 30, 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 6/30/2026. (ps) (Entered: 06/30/2026)
Jun 30, 2026
Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order
Jun 30, 2026
Case Assigned to Judge Katharine S. Hayden. (ps)
Jun 30, 2026
Case Assigned/Reassigned
#3
Jul 01, 2026
TEXT ORDER: Petitioner EMERSON DANIEL CRUZ PINEDA is a citizen of Honduras who entered the United States in January 2016. (ECF No. 1, Petition at 17-20.) He allegedly has no criminal history and was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") on June 27, 2026 (id.), and contends that he is unlawfully detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) and is entitled to release or a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). In Rivera Zumba v. Bondi, Civ. No. 25-cv-14626, 2025 WL 2753496, at *7-9 (D.N.J. Sept. 26, 2025), this Court held that the plain language of 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) does not govern the detention of a noncitizen who enters the United States without inspection and is later arrested within the interior of the United States; see also Guzman v. Bondi, 26-1250 (KSH), 2026 WL 1534682, at *5 (D.N.J., 2026) (Jun. 1, 2026) (rejecting respondents' argument that noncitizen who was paroled at the border under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(5)(A) reverts to his prior detention status following a period of parole). Based on the allegations in the Petition and this Court's prior decisions, the Court GRANTS the Petition. The Court will not convert Petitioner's detention to a potentially lawful alternate form under a different statute with different procedural requirements and rules. See Guzman, 2026 WL 1534682, at *5. It is ORDERED that Respondents shall release Petitioner within 24 hours and confirm his release in writing on the docket within three (3) days. ALTERNATIVELY, if Respondents contend that Petitioner's case is factually or legally distinguishable, they shall file an expedited answer within five (5) days, and Petitioner may file a reply within three (3) days of the filing of the expedited answer. The Court's Text Order (ECF No. 2) that temporarily enjoins Respondents from transferring Petitioner from this District REMAINS IN EFFECT until Petitioner is released or the proceedings conclude. So Ordered by Judge Katharine S. Hayden on 7/1/2026. (mw) (Entered: 07/01/2026)
Jul 01, 2026
Order
#4
Jul 03, 2026
Notice of Appearance
Main Document: Notice of Appearance
#5
Jul 03, 2026
Letter
Main Document: Letter
Jul 09, 2026
Terminate Civil Case
Jul 09, 2026
Order

Parties

CRUZ PINEDA
Party
SOTO
Party