District of New Jersey • 3:26-cv-08155

#1

Jul 02, 2026

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17614057.), filed by ANGEL ROLANDO GUAMAN CAGUANA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(CARDONA NUILA, PATRICIA) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

#2

Jul 03, 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 7/3/2026. (gxh) (Entered: 07/03/2026)

#3

Jul 03, 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 Ecuador, alleges that he last entered the United States, without inspection, in or around March 2019, and has continuously resided in New Jersey since his entry. (Id. Paras. 24-25.) Petitioner has one lawful permanent resident child (who is fourteen-years old). (Id. Para. 24.) Petitioner has no criminal history. (Id. Para. 29.) On July 2, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") arrested Petitioner (and several other non-citizens) at the ICE offices in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Petitioner has been detained at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey. (Id. Paras. 26, 28.) 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 attachment to the Petition (ECF No. 1-1), 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 7/3/2026. (jmh, n.m) (Entered: 07/03/2026)

Jul 03, 2026

Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order

Jul 03, 2026

Judge Georgette Castner added. (gxh)

Jul 03, 2026

Text Order

Jul 03, 2026

Add and Terminate Judges

#4

Jul 04, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by DAVID INKELES on behalf of ROY BECKER-ROWLEY, TODD BLANCHE, TODD M. LYONS, MARKWAYNE MULLIN (INKELES, DAVID) (Entered: 07/04/2026)

#5

Jul 04, 2026

Letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office re: Petitioner's Release re 3 Text Order,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. (INKELES, DAVID) (Entered: 07/04/2026)

Jul 06, 2026

Order of Dismissal AND Text Order