District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-08795

#1

Jul 16, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number 54582.), filed by SANTOS ERNESTO MEJIA BONILLA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit G, # 7 Exhibit H, # 8 Exhibit I)(wh) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#2

Jul 16, 2026

MOTION for Expedited Consideration by SANTOS ERNESTO MEJIA BONILLA. (wh) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#3

Jul 16, 2026

MOTION for Immediate Release by SANTOS ERNESTO MEJIA BONILLA. (wh) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#4

Jul 16, 2026

MOTION to Enjoin Transfer by SANTOS ERNESTO MEJIA BONILLA. (wh) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#5

Jul 16, 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 7/16/2026. N/M(wh) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

Jul 16, 2026

Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

#6

Jul 17, 2026

TEXT ORDER : This matter is before the Court on the pro se 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. 5 ). 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 Honduras, alleges that, on or about August 14, 2005, he entered the United States through Laredo, Texas, and has remained continuously in the United States since that date. (Pet. Paras. 5, 7). He is the father of a fourteen-year old chi]ld who depends upon him for emotional and financial support. (Id. Para. 8). "Petitioner has never been convicted of any criminal offense, [and] has no criminal history." (Id. Para. 9). On July 5, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Petitioner at a traffic stop in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and he has been detained at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey. (Id. Paras. 15-21). 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. Petitioner may file a reply within forty-eight (48) hours of the time of filing of Respondents' expedited answer. 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 motions for expedited consideration, (D.E. No. 2 ), for immediate release, (D.E. No. 3 ), and to enjoin transfer, (D.E. No. 4 ), are DENIED as moot, and the Clerk of Court shall TERMINATE the Motions pending at D.E. Nos. 2 and 3 . 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 -8), the motions (D.E. Nos. 2 through 4 ), and this Text Order to the Chief, Civil Division, United States Attorney's Office, at the following email address: USANJ-HabeasCases@usdoj.gov, and shall send a copy of this Text Order to Petitioner by regular U.S. Mail. (N/M). So Ordered by Judge Esther Salas on 7/17/2026. (ek) (Entered: 07/17/2026)

Jul 17, 2026

Text Order

#7

Jul 18, 2026

Notice of Appearance

#8

Jul 19, 2026

Letter

#9

Jul 20, 2026

Certification