Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-06390

#1

Aug 11, 2026

PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against All Defendants by Jaskaran Singh. (Filing fee $ 5, receipt number ACAEDC-13712300) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Martin, Michael) (Entered: 08/11/2026)

#2

Aug 11, 2026

MOTION for TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by Jaskaran Singh. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Points and Authorities, # 4 Notice, # 5 Proposed Order)(Martin, Michael) (Entered: 08/11/2026)

#3

Aug 11, 2026

IMMIGRATION NEW CASE DOCUMENTS (Attachments: # 1 Order re Consent) (Deputy Clerk LJB) (Entered: 08/11/2026)

#4

Aug 11, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Elisa M. Rodriguez for Sergio Albarran,Elisa M. Rodriguez for Todd Blanche,Elisa M. Rodriguez for Markwayne Mullin,Elisa M. Rodriguez for David Venturella,Elisa M. Rodriguez for Warden, Golden State Annex Detention Center (Rodriguez, Elisa) (Entered: 08/11/2026)

#5

Aug 11, 2026

MINUTE ORDER issued by the Courtroom Deputy for District Judge Dena M. Coggins on 8/11/2026: The court has reviewed Petitioner's 1 Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus and 2 Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order. Respondents shall file an Opposition or Statement of Non-Opposition to the 2 Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order by 12:00 PM on 8/13/2026. Petitioner may file a Reply by 12:00 PM on 8/14/2026. This matter is not set for a hearing, though the court may schedule one if it determines it is necessary. (Text Only Entry) (Deputy Clerk CRS) (Entered: 08/11/2026)

Aug 11, 2026

Minute Order AND ~Util - Set Motion and F&R Deadlines/Hearings

Aug 11, 2026

RECEIPT number ACAEDC-13712300 for $5.00 from Michael Martin. (Deputy Clerk SSA)

#6

Aug 13, 2026

OPPOSITION by Respondents Sergio Albarran, Todd Blanche, Markwayne Mullin, David Venturella, Warden, Golden State Annex Detention Center. (Rodriguez, Elisa) (Entered: 08/13/2026)

#7

Aug 14, 2026

Reply to Response to Motion

#8

Aug 19, 2026

REQUEST for Ruling on 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order by Jaskaran Singh. (Martin, Michael) Modified on 8/20/2026 (HAH). (Entered: 08/19/2026)

#9

Aug 21, 2026

MINUTE ORDER issued by the Courtroom Deputy for District Judge Dena M. Coggins on August 21, 2026: In his 1 Petition and 2 Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, Petitioner argues there is no lawful basis for his ongoing detention because: (1) the convictions underlying his detention beginning January 21, 2026, were vacated on May 28, 2026; (2) an Immigration Judge consequently terminated Petitioner's removal proceedings on July 6, 2026; (3) Respondents did not appeal that order; and (4) Respondents have not formally initiated new removal proceedings. In their 6 Opposition, Respondents assert Petitioner is mandatorily detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(c)(1)(A) because he was convicted of crimes involving controlled substances, and the vacatur of his convictions was improper. However, convictions like Petitioner's that are vacated due to procedural or substantive defects do not qualify as convictions under § 1226(c)(1)(A). See Ballinas-Lucero v. Garland, 44 F.4th 1169, 1177-78 (9th Cir. Mar. 15, 2022) (describing longstanding rule that a conviction vacated due to procedural or substantive defects does not qualify as a conviction for immigration purposes); Bustos-Alonso, v. Blanche, No. 24-3749, 2026 WL 2255445, at *1-2 (9th Cir. Aug. 5, 2026) (ordering the agency to reconsider the petitioner's asylum and application cases in light of his vacatur under Cal. Penal Code § 1473.7(a)(1)). Specifically, Petitioner's convictions were vacated under Cal. Penal Code § 1473.7(a)(1) (see Doc. No. 1-1 at 34-38), and under that subsection, convictions are vacated "to address a substantive or procedural error that renders [the] conviction[s] legally invalid"--not simply to alleviate immigration consequences. Bent v. Garland, 115 F.4th 934, 940 (9th Cir. 2024) (citation modified); Matter of De Jesus-Platon, 29 I. & N. Dec. 7, 10 (BIA 2025) (acknowledging that Bent is controlling precedent in this jurisdiction); Luong v. Blanche, No. 25-3651, 2026 WL 1652950, at *2 (9th Cir. June 8, 2026) (reaffirming Bent's position that a conviction vacated under Cal. Penal Code § 1473.7(a)(1) is a conviction vacated due to a substantive or procedural error). Respondents' asserted basis for detaining Petitioner under § 1226(c)(1)(A) is therefore invalid. See VREJ S.G., v. Chestnut, No. 1:26-CV-04428-MWJS, 2026 WL 2049816, at *7 (E.D. Cal. July 15, 2026) (ordering the petitioner's immediate release "[b]ecause Respondents have offered no other lawful basis for Petitioner's detention--and because their only asserted ground, § 1226(c), is improper" because the underlying conviction was vacated). To the extent Respondents argue Petitioner should have raised his arguments in a Joseph hearing before filing the Petition, this court is unpersuaded on these facts and will employ its discretion to waive prudential exhaustion. See Soriano v. Hernandez, 830 F. Supp. 3d 1071, 1079 (W.D. Wash. 2026) (waiving prudential exhaustion in immigration proceedings where "as a matter of law, the undisputed evidence presented at the [immigration court] hearing" could not support continued detention). Because Respondents provide no other lawful grounds to support Petitioner's ongoing detention, the undersigned finds that Petitioner is likely to prevail on the merits of his Petition and therefore GRANTS Petitioner's 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and ORDERS that Petitioner Jaskaran Singh (A-098-124-530) shall be RELEASED IMMEDIATELY from Respondents' custody under the same conditions he was subject to immediately prior to his detention on January 21, 2026. Respondents shall not impose any additional restriction on him, such as electronic monitoring, unless that is determined to be necessary at a future pre-deprivation/custody hearing. If the Government seeks to re-detain Petitioner, it must provide no less than seven (7) days' notice to Petitioner and must hold a pre-deprivation bond hearing before a neutral arbiter, at which Petitioner's eligibility for bond must be considered. This case is REFERRED to the assigned Magistrate Judge for further proceedings. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to serve a copy of this Order on the Golden State Annex Detention Facility. (Text Only Entry) (cc: ICE-Golden State) (Deputy Clerk CRS) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

Aug 21, 2026

Minute Order AND Order on Motion for TRO AND ~Util - 1 Terminate Deadlines and Hearings