Northern District of Indiana • 3:25-cv-01023

#1

Dec 11, 2025

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed by Songdi Chen (atty Z. Jack Hsia). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibits, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Envelope)(nah) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

#2

Dec 11, 2025

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by Petitioner Songdi Chen (by atty Z. Jack Hsia). (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(nah) Modified on 12/15/2025 per Order DE 8 (nah). (Entered: 12/11/2025)

#3

Dec 11, 2025

MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis by Petitioner Songdi Chen (by atty Z. Jack Hsia). (nah) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

#4

Dec 11, 2025

APPLICATION for Attorney Zixu Hsia to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Songdi Chen ; Receipt #6304. (ace) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

#5

Dec 11, 2025

ORDER granting 4 Application to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Attorney Zixu J Hsia PHV for Songdi Chen. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott J Frankel on 12/11/2025. (ace) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

#6

Dec 12, 2025

ORDER: The Court ORDERS Songdi Chen to resolve his filing fee status by either filing a copy of his prisoner trust account statement for the past six months, filing a Non-Prisoner Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, or by paying the $5 filing fee. He is CAUTIONED if he does not respond by 12/19/2025, this case may be dismissed without further notice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott J Frankel on 12/12/2025. (ely) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

#7

Dec 12, 2025

MOTION to Amend/Correct 3 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis by Petitioner Songdi Chen. (Hsia PHV, Zixu) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

#8

Dec 15, 2025

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: GRANTS the motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF 3, ECF 7 ); DIRECTS the clerk to edit the docket to reflect that the motion for a temporary restraining order (ECF 2 ) is a motion for a preliminary injunction; DIRECTS the clerk to serve a copy of this order, the petition (ECF 1 ), and the motion for a preliminary injunction (ECF 2 ) by certified mail, return receipt requested, to (a) the Civil-Process Clerk for the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana; (b) the Attorney General of the United States; (c) the Director of the Chicago ICE Field Office at the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor; (d) the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, at the Office of General Counsel, (e) the Director of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor; and (f) the Warden of Miami Correctional Facility at the Indiana Department of Correction; DIRECTS the clerk to email a copy of this order, the petition (ECF 1 ), and the motion for a preliminary injunction (ECF 2 ) to (a) the IDOC; (b) the Warden of Miami Correctional Facility at MCF, and (c) the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana; ORDERS the people listed in the previous order line to acknowledge receipt of the petition to the clerk and DIRECTS the clerk to make a notation on the docket upon receiving confirmation of receipt of those deliveries; ORDERS such respondents to file a response (a return) to the petition by 12/22/25, with any traverse due on or before 12/29/2025, with the petitioner to SHOW CAUSE by that date why the respondents beyond the custodial warden should not be immediately dismissed from this proceeding as improper parties; and ORDERS respondents to file a response to the motion for a preliminary injunction (ECF 2 ), including whether there are plans to remove Songdi Chen from the United States in the next 21 days and, if so, to where, by 12/18/2025, with the reply due 12/22/2025. Signed by Judge Damon R Leichty on 12/15/2025. (Copy E-mailed to Warden at MCF, IDOC and US Atty as directed in Order)(Civil-Process Clerk - 9589071052702296072218, Attorney General - 9589071052702296072225, Director of the Chicago ICE Field Office -9589071052702296072232, Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security -9589071052702296072249, Director of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement - 9589071052702296072256, Warden of Miami Correctional Facility -9589071052702296072201) (nah) Modified to add routing on 12/15/2025 (kmt). (Entered: 12/15/2025)

#9

Dec 15, 2025

Confirmation received from Warden, IDOC and AUSA re: receipt of DE 8, 2 and 1 . (nah) (Entered: 12/15/2025)

Dec 15, 2025

Docket Annotation - public event with NEF

#10

Dec 18, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Brian Irvin - AUSA on behalf of Brian English, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Sam Olsen, US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Irvin - AUSA, Brian) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

#11

Dec 18, 2025

Joint MOTION to reset Deadlines by Respondents Brian English, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Sam Olsen, US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Irvin - AUSA, Brian) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

#12

Dec 19, 2025

ORDER: The Court GRANTS the motion (ECF 11 ); VACATES the deadlines set in the order to show cause (ECF 8 ); ORDERS respondents to file a brief status report by 12/23/2025, detailing whether there are plans to remove Songdi Chen from the United States in the next 30 days and, if so, to where; and GRANTS Songdi Chen until 1/5/2026, to file an amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott J Frankel on 12/19/2025. (ely) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec 19, 2025

Terminate Deadlines/Hearings

Dec 19, 2025

***Deadlines terminated per DE 12 . (ely)

#13

Dec 23, 2025

STATUS REPORT by Brian English, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Sam Olsen, US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Irvin - AUSA, Brian) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

#14

Jan 05, 2026

AMENDED PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 by Songdi Chen. Amended Petition. (Hsia PHV, Zixu) Modified on 1/7/2026 to edit docket text (nah). (Attachment(s): # 2 Exhibits) (ksc). (Entered: 01/05/2026)

#15

Jan 05, 2026

PROOF OF SERVICE Executed on the Attorney General as to 8 Order to Show Cause. (ely) (Entered: 01/06/2026)

#16

Jan 12, 2026

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: The court DENIES the motion for a preliminary injunction (ECF 2 ); and ORDERS respondents to answer the petition by 1/16/26, with the reply due 1/23/26, with the petitioner to SHOW CAUSE by that date why the respondents beyond the custodial warden should not be immediately dismissed from this proceeding as improper parties. Signed by Judge Damon R Leichty on 1/12/2026. (nah) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

#17

Jan 12, 2026

PROOF OF SERVICE Executed from the ICE Chicago Field Office Director as to 8 Order to Show Cause. (ely) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

#18

Jan 12, 2026

PROOF OF SERVICE Executed from the Acting Director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement as to 8 Order to Show Cause. (ely) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

#19

Jan 15, 2026

PROOF OF SERVICE Executed from the Warden of MCF as to 8 Order to Show Cause.(ely) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

#20

Jan 16, 2026

RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE by US Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, Sam Olsen, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Brian English, Todd Lyons filed by US Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, Sam Olsen, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Brian English, Todd Lyons. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit)(Irvin - AUSA, Brian) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

#21

Jan 23, 2026

Traverse to RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE filed by Songdi Chen. (Hsia PHV, Zixu) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

#22

Feb 13, 2026

PROOF OF SERVICE Executed to the Secretary of DHS as to 8 Order to Show Cause. (ely) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#23

Feb 20, 2026

First MOTION to Amend/Correct 14 Amended Document Amended Petition by Petitioner Songdi Chen. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1. Proposed Second Amended Petition, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 2. Redlined Copy of Amended Petition, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 3. Interpreter Certification Affidavit, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 4. Chai Mei Chen Letter of Support, # 5 Exhibit Exhibits for Second Amended Petition)(Hsia PHV, Zixu) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#24

Mar 19, 2026

Order on Motion to Amend/Correct

#25

Mar 19, 2026

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - court user

Mar 19, 2026

Set/Reset Deadlines

#26

Mar 22, 2026

Notice - Other

#27

Mar 27, 2026

Response to Order to Show Cause

#28

Apr 01, 2026

Traverse

#29

Apr 20, 2026

Notice - Other

#30

Apr 24, 2026

OPINION AND ORDER: The court DISMISSES the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Acting Director of the United States Immigration and Customs Enfo rcement, and the Chicago Field Office Director for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; GRANTS the petition for writ of habeas corpus 1 and ORDERS the respondent to release Songdi Chen on appropriate conditions of supervised release a nd to certify compliance with this order by filing a notice with the court by 4/27/26; DIRECTS the clerk to email a copy of this order to the Warden of the Miami Correctional Facility at the Indiana Department of Correction to secure his release; and ORDERS that any fee petition should be filed within the deadlines set by the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Signed by Judge Damon R Leichty on 4/24/26. (Copy e-mailed to Warden and IDOC as directed in order)(nah)

#32

Apr 27, 2026

Notice - Other

Apr 27, 2026

Docket Annotation - public event with NEF

#33

May 04, 2026

Order Dismissing Case

#34

May 04, 2026

Clerks Judgment