Western District of Texas • 3:26-cv-01905
Fernandes v. Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center (Collier)
Active
Case Information
Filed: July 14, 2026
Assigned to:
Leon Schydlower
Referred to:
—
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause:
28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federa
Active
Last Activity:
July 14, 2026
Parties:
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Docket Entries
#1
Jun 29, 2026
PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus - Federal filed by Leonardo Sanchez Fernandez. (Attachments: # 1 Mailing Envelope)(JTM) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/01/2026)
Main Document:
PETITION
#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) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/01/2026)
Main Document:
MEMORANDUM
#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. [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/01/2026)
Main Document:
MOTION
#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) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (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) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/02/2026)
Main Document:
ORDER
#6
Jul 07, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance by Nicholas John Peter Meros on behalf of Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center (Meros, Nicholas) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/07/2026)
Main Document:
NOTICE
#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) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/09/2026)
Main Document:
RESPONSE
#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) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/09/2026)
Main Document:
MOTION
#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) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/10/2026)
#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) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/13/2026)
Main Document:
ORDER.
#11
Jul 14, 2026
CASE ELECTRONICALLY TRANSFERRED to the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division. ***Case closed. (LMF) [Transferred from Florida Middle on 7/14/2026.] (Entered: 07/14/2026)
#12
Jul 14, 2026
Case electronically transferred in from the Middle District of Florida-Ft. Myers Division; Case Number 2:26-cv-02104. (Entered: 07/14/2026)
Main Document:
Case Transferred In - District Transfer
Jul 14, 2026
Case Assigned/Reassigned
Jul 14, 2026
If ordered by the court, all referrals will be assigned to Magistrate Judge Castaneda (mv)
Jul 14, 2026
Case assigned to District Judge Leon Schydlower. CM WILL NOW REFLECT THE JUDGE INITIALS AS PART OF THE CASE NUMBER. PLEASE APPEND THESE JUDGE INITIALS TO THE CASE NUMBER ON EACH DOCUMENT THAT YOU FILE IN THIS CASE. (mv)
Jul 14, 2026
Remark
Jul 14, 2026
To be Referred to EP Mag Judge
Parties
Fernandes
Party
Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center (Collier)
Party