Western District of Louisiana • 1:26-cv-02345

#1

Jul 01, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17608383.), filed by ANTHONY RIQUELMER ESTRADA. (Attachments: # 1 Habeas Order, # 2 Brief, # 3 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE, # 4 Certificate of Service, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet)(FERNANDEZ, REGIS) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.] (Entered: 07/01/2026)

#2

Jul 01, 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 7/1/2026. (jml, ) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.] (Entered: 07/01/2026)

Jul 01, 2026

Judge Esther Salas added. (jml, ) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.]

#3

Jul 02, 2026

TEXT ORDER : This matter is before the Court on the Petitioner's petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (D.E. No. 1 ("Petition" or "Pet.")). Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb entered a Text Order enjoining Respondents from transferring Petitioner from New Jersey pending further Order of the Court. (D.E. No. 2 ). Pursuant to the All Writs Act, see 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a), Respondents SHALL NOT TRANSFER Petitioner from the District of New Jersey, and SHALL NOT REMOVE Petitioner from the United States, pending further order of this Court. Petitioner, a native and citizen of Guatemala, alleges that, on or about March 2, 2021, he entered the United States without inspection through the United States-Mexico border and has continuously resided in the United States since his entry. (Pet. Para. 13). Petitioner resides in Trenton, New Jersey, and he has been employed in the construction industry. (Id. Paras. 14-15). "Petitioner has no criminal history whatsoever." (Id. Para. 16 (alleging that "[h]e has never been arrested, charged, or convicted of any criminal offense involving violence, theft, controlled substances, domestic violence, fraud, driving under the influence, or any other conduct suggesting that he presents a danger to the community").) On or about June 27, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Petitioner, and he has been detained at the Delaney Hall Contract Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey. (Id. Paras. 17-18). Based on Petitioner's allegations and this Court's recent decision in Diaz Rudecindo v. Florentino, No. 25-16942, 2025 WL 3470299 (D.N.J. Dec. 3, 2025), the Court holds that Petitioner is subject to detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and that it appears Respondents have unlawfully detained Petitioner without a bond hearing 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); Vasquez Lucero v. Soto, No. 25-16737, 2025 WL 3240895 (D.N.J. Nov. 20, 2025); Quintanar Hernandez v. Bondi, No. 26-04096, D.E. 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 (D.N.J. Apr. 20, 2026). The Court thus GRANTS the Petition, and ORDERS that Respondents SHALL RELEASE Petitioner within twenty-four (24) hours of the time of entry of this Text Order. Alternatively, if Respondents contend that Petitioner's case is legally distinguishable from those cited herein or that he has misrepresented his criminal history, they shall file an expedited answer within forty-eight (48) hours of the time of entry of this Text Order. If Respondents do not file an expedited answer, they shall file a status report within forty-eight (48) hours of the time of entry of this Text Order confirming the time of Petitioner's release. Petitioner's request for an order to show cause, (D.E. No. 1 -3), is DENIED as moot. The Clerk of Court shall forward a copy of the Petition, (D.E. No. 1 ), the attachments to the Petition, (D.E. Nos. 1 -1 through 1 -5), 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 Esther Salas on 7/2/2026. (ek) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.] (Entered: 07/02/2026)

#4

Jul 02, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by JESSICA LASERNA on behalf of TODD BLANCHE, TODD LYONS, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, LUIS SOTO (LASERNA, JESSICA) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.] (Entered: 07/02/2026)

#5

Jul 02, 2026

Letter from Respondents Providing Status Update re 3 Text Order,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. (LASERNA, JESSICA) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.] (Entered: 07/02/2026)

#6

Jul 03, 2026

Letter from Respondents Reporting Status Update and Requesting Transfer of Venue on Consent. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order to Transfer to Western District of Louisiana)(LASERNA, JESSICA) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.] (Entered: 07/03/2026)

#7

Jul 06, 2026

ORDER that this action is TRANSFERRED to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The Court's restrictions prohibiting Respondents from transferring Petitioner outside of New Jersey, (D.E. Nos. 2 and 3), are hereby lifted. Signed by Judge Esther Salas on 7/5/2026. (ld) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.] (Entered: 07/06/2026)

#8

Jul 06, 2026

DISTRICT CASE transferred in from District of New Jersey; Case Number 2:26-cv-08059. Original file copy of transfer order and docket sheet received (Entered: 07/06/2026)

Jul 06, 2026

***Civil Case Terminated. (ld) [Transferred from New Jersey on 7/6/2026.]

Jul 06, 2026

Terminate Case (Private Entry)

#9

Jul 08, 2026

Notice of Standing Order 1.74

#10

Jul 08, 2026

Proposed Order (Court User Only/Public Entry No NEF)

Jul 08, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned