Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-06467

#1

Aug 13, 2026

PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against Todd Blanche, Director of ERO Fresno Sub Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Markwayne Mullin, David J. Venturella, Warden of California City Immigration Processing Center by LIJIE ZUO. (Filing fee $ 5, receipt number ACAEDC-13729565) (Song, Yunchao) (Entered: 08/13/2026)

#2

Aug 13, 2026

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed by LIJIE ZUO. (Song, Yunchao) (Entered: 08/13/2026)

#3

Aug 14, 2026

IMMIGRATION NEW CASE DOCUMENTS (Attachments: # 1 Order re Consent) (Deputy Clerk LJB) (Entered: 08/14/2026)

#4

Aug 14, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Jonathan Williams, GOVT for Todd Blanche,Jonathan Williams, GOVT for Director of ERO Fresno Sub Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations,Jonathan Williams, GOVT for Markwayne Mullin,Jonathan Williams, GOVT for David Venturella,Jonathan Williams, GOVT for Warden of California City Immigration Processing Center (Williams, Jonathan) (Entered: 08/14/2026)

#5

Aug 14, 2026

MINUTE ORDER issued by Relief Courtroom Deputy for Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 8/14/2026: This matter is REFERRED to the assigned U.S. Magistrate Judge for further proceedings pursuant to Local Rule 302 and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). Pending the Court's ruling on the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, Respondents shall NOT TRANSFER Petitioner out of this District. See F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 608 (1966) (noting the Court's "express authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to protect its own jurisdiction."). (TEXT ONLY ENTRY) (Deputy Clerk RAA) (Entered: 08/14/2026)

#6

Aug 14, 2026

MINUTE ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson on 8/14/2026: Petitioner, an immigration detainee proceeding through counsel, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Under Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, the court must examine the habeas corpus petition and order a response to the petition unless it "plainly appears" that the petitioner is not entitled to relief. It does not plainly appear that petitioner is not entitled to relief. Therefore, the court orders the government to respond to the petition and sets a briefing schedule. In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Within seven days of the date of service of this order, respondents must file a response to the petition. 2. A response may be one of the following: A. An answer addressing the merits of the petition. Any argument by respondents that petitioner has procedurally defaulted a claim must be raised in the answer, which must also address the merits of petitioner's claims. B. A motion to dismiss the petition. 3. Within seven days of the date of service of this order, respondents must file any documents necessary for resolving the issues presented in the petition. 4. If respondents file an answer to the petition, petitioner may file a traverse within seven days of the date of service of respondents' answer. If no traverse is filed within seven days, the petition and answer are deemed submitted. 5. If respondents move to dismiss, petitioner must file an opposition or statement of non-opposition within seven days of the date of service of respondents' motion. Any reply to an opposition to the motion to dismiss must be filed within seven days after the opposition is served. The motion to dismiss will be considered submitted twenty-one days after the service of the motion or when the reply is filed, whichever comes first. See Local Rule 230(l). (Text Only Entry). (Deputy Clerk NAC) (Entered: 08/14/2026)

Aug 14, 2026

Minute Order

#7

Aug 22, 2026

RESPONSE by Todd Blanche, Director of ERO Fresno Sub Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Markwayne Mullin, David Venturella, Warden of California City Immigration Processing Center to 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus,. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A-DHS Records, # 2 Exhibit B-RAP Sheet, # 3 Exhibit C-EOIR Records)(Williams, Jonathan) (Entered: 08/22/2026)

#8

Aug 27, 2026

TRAVERSE by Lijie Zuo. (Song, Yunchao) (Entered: 08/27/2026)

#9

Sep 25, 2026

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson on 9/24/2026 RECOMMENDING the 1 petition for writ of habeas corpus be granted; Respondents be ordered to immediately release petitioner Lijie Zuo (A-Number: 245-641-474) from their custody on the same conditions as prior to his detention; Respondents shall not impose any additional restrictions on petitioner, unless that is determined to be necessary at a future pre-deprivation hearing; If the government seeks to re-detain petitioner, it must provide no less than seven days' notice to petitioner and must hold a constitutionally compliant pre-deprivation bond hearing before a neutral arbiter at which the government bears the burden of proving flight risk or danger by clear and convincing evidence; This order does not address the circumstances in which respondents may detain petitioner in the event petitioner becomes subject to an executable final order of removal; the Clerk of Court be directed to serve California City Detention Facility with a copy of this order, enter judgment accordingly, and close this case. Referred to Judge Troy L. Nunley. Objections to F&R due within 3 days. (Deputy Clerk KLY)

#10

Sep 27, 2026

Objections to Findings and Recommendations

#11

Sep 29, 2026

RELEASE ORDER signed by Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 9/28/2026 ADOPTING the 9 findings and recommendations filed 9/25/2026 in full and GRANTING the 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Respondents are ORDERED to IMMEDIATELY RELEA SE Petitioner Lijie Z. (A# 245-641-474) from their custody on the same conditions as prior to his detention. Respondents shall not impose any additional restrictions on Petitioner, unless that is determined to be necessary at a future predeprivation hearing. At the time of release, Respondents must return all of Petitioner's documents and possessions. Respondents are ENJOINED from re-detaining Petitioner, while subject to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), absent compliance with statutory and const itutional protections, including a minimum of seven-days' notice and a pre-deprivation hearing before a neutral factfinder where the government must establish by clear and convincing evidence that its interest in protecting the public or ensurin g Petitioner appears at future immigration proceedings outweighs Petitioner's constitutionally protected interest in remaining free from detention such that no alternative to detention can mitigate that risk. See Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678 , 690 (2001); Hernandez v. Sessions, 872 F.3d 976, 990 (9th Cir. 2017). At any such hearing, Petitioner shall be allowed to have counsel present. The Clerk of Court is directed to serve this Order on the California City Detention Facility, enter judgment in favor of Petitioner, and close this case. CASE CLOSED. (cc: California City) (Deputy Clerk KLY)

#12

Sep 29, 2026

Judgment