Western District of New York • 1:26-cv-01438
Dawelbait v. Field Office Director of Buffalo Federal Detention Center
Completed
Case Information
Filed: July 15, 2026
Assigned to:
Meredith A. Vacca
Referred to:
—
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause:
28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federa
Completed: August 20, 2026
Last Activity:
August 20, 2026
Parties:
View All Parties →
Docket Entries
#1
Jul 15, 2026
PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANYWDC-5902693.), filed by Amer Abaker Adam Dawelbait. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Urena, Rafael) (Entered: 07/15/2026)
Main Document:
PETITION
Jul 16, 2026
Case assigned to Hon. Meredith A. Vacca. Notification to chambers of online civil opening. (ARS)
Jul 16, 2026
Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge: A United States Magistrate of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636(c) and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form (AO-85) is available for download at http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/forms. (ARS)
#2
Jul 22, 2026
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. Signed by Hon. Meredith A. Vacca on 7/22/2026. (CGJ) (Entered: 07/22/2026)
Main Document:
ORDER
#3
Jul 22, 2026
TEXT ORDER. Consistent with the parties' email communications with the Court on July 22, 2026, Respondents shall return Petitioner to the Western District of New York on or before July 29, 2026. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Meredith A. Vacca on 7/22/26. (NWA) (Entered: 07/22/2026)
Jul 22, 2026
Clerk emailed 1 Petition and 2 Order to USANYW-Immigration-Habeas@usdoj.gov (CGJ)
#4
Jul 23, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance of Government Attorney: Adam A. Khalil, appearing on behalf of Todd Blanche, Field Office Director of Buffalo Federal Detention Center, Markwayne Mullin, David Venturella. CLERK TO FOLLOW UP. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 07/23/2026)
#5
Jul 23, 2026
REPLY/RESPONSE to re 2 Order to Show Cause filed by Todd Blanche, Field Office Director of Buffalo Federal Detention Center, Markwayne Mullin, David Venturella. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 07/23/2026)
Main Document:
REPLY/RESPONSE
#6
Jul 23, 2026
Letter filed by Todd Blanche, Field Office Director of Buffalo Federal Detention Center, Markwayne Mullin, David Venturella with ICE documents. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 07/23/2026)
Main Document:
Letter
#7
Jul 23, 2026
TEXT ORDER granting Petitioner's request for a bond hearing. ECF No. 1 .Petitioner has filed a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus contending, inter alia, that he is being unlawfully detained and is entitled to release or a bond hearing. ECF No. 1. Respondents filed a response conceding that this case shared a common question of law with the Court's decision in Da Cunha v. Freden, No. 25-CV-6532-MAV, 2025 WL 3280575 (W.D.N.Y. Nov. 25, 2025), aff'd, No. 25-3141-pr, 2026 WL 1146044 (2d Cir. Apr. 28, 2026), and that the Court's resolution of the question in Da Cunha controlled the results in the instant case should the Court adhere to its prior reasoning. In Da Cunha, the Court considered whether a petitioner who had been present in the country for a period of years and was not actively seeking lawful entry through inspection by an immigration officer was detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) or 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). The Court found that the petitioner was detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and was therefore entitled to an initial bond hearing under existing federal regulations. Da Cunha, 2025 WL 3280575, at *7.The Court accepts Respondents' position, as argued, that Da Cunha governs. For that reason, the Court GRANTS the petition to the extent of a bond hearing and hereby ORDERS that Respondents shall provide Petitioner with a bond hearing before an Immigration Judge within ten (10) days of the date that Petitioner is returned to the Western District of New York. See ECF No. 3. The Court directs that the initial bond hearing shall be provided "as established by existing federal regulations." Da Cunha, 2025 WL 3280575, at *7 (quoting Jennings v. Rodriguez, 583 U.S. 281, 306 (2018) (citing 8 C.F.R. §§ 236.1(d)(1), 1236.1(d)(1)). If such bond hearing is not conducted within ten (10) days of the date that Petitioner is returned to the Western District of New York, Petitioner shall be released from custody. Respondents shall file a status report no later than twenty (20) days from the date of this order confirming that Petitioner has either been granted a bond hearing within the prescribed ten (10) days or released from custody, in compliance with this Order. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Meredith A. Vacca on 7/23/26. (NWA) (Entered: 07/23/2026)
#8
Aug 10, 2026
Letter filed by Todd Blanche, Field Office Director of Buffalo Federal Detention Center, Markwayne Mullin, David Venturella re bond hearing. (Khalil, Adam) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
Main Document:
Letter
#9
Aug 12, 2026
TEXT ORDER: On August 10, 2026, Respondents informed the Court that a bond hearing was held. Dkt. No. 8 . The Court views the issues raised by petition as now resolved and intends to direct the Clerk's Office to close the case, unless on or before August 19, 2026, either party objects. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Meredith A. Vacca on 8/12/2026. (KSP) (Entered: 08/12/2026)
#10
Aug 20, 2026
TEXT ORDER. On August 12, 2026, the Court directed that any remaining objections be filed by the parties. Having received no objections, the Court dismisses any remaining claims in the petition without prejudice and directs the Clerk of the Court to close the case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Hon. Meredith A. Vacca on 8/20/26. (NWA)Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 08/20/2026)
#11
Aug 20, 2026
JUDGMENT in favor of Amer Abaker Adam Dawelbait against Field Office Director of Buffalo Federal Detention Center, David Venturella, Markwayne Mullin, Todd Blanche. Signed by Andrew W. Moeller, Clerk of Court on 8/20/2026. (CGJ) (Entered: 08/20/2026)
Main Document:
JUDGMENT
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