Southern District of California • 3:26-cv-04897

#1

Aug 27, 2026

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus against Christopher J. LaRose ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number 171846.), filed by Wilson Miguel Mejia Morales. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit - U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Notice to Appear), # 3 Receipt)The new case number is 3:26-cv-4897-TWR-AHG. Judge Todd W. Robinson and Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard are assigned to the case.(ggv) (Entered: 08/28/2026)

#2

Aug 28, 2026

MINUTE ORDER Requiring Response to Petition. Respondents SHALL RESPOND to Petitioner's 1 Petition on or before September 3, 2026. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service) (no document attached) (sxd) (Entered: 08/28/2026)

Aug 28, 2026

Order Setting Briefing Schedule - Habeas Corpus

#3

Aug 31, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance and Substitution of Counsel by Jacob Tyler Metzger on behalf of Christopher J. LaRose (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service)(Metzger, Jacob)Attorney Jacob Tyler Metzger added to party Christopher J. LaRose(pty:res) (mjw). (Entered: 08/31/2026)

#4

Sep 02, 2026

RETURN to Petition for Writ of H/C by Christopher J. LaRose. (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service)(Metzger, Jacob) (jpp). (Entered: 09/02/2026)

#5

Sep 10, 2026

MINUTE ORDER Requiring Supplemental Response. On or before September 16, 2026, Respondents SHALL FILE a supplemental response addressing Petitioner's argument that he is entitled to release from detention on the grounds that his re-detention without a valid warrant or lawful process violated his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. See Minute Order Granting Petition, Lopez Lopez v. LaRose, No. 26-cv-4399 TWR (SBC) (S.D. Cal. entered Sept. 10, 2026), ECF No. 10. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service) (no document attached) (sxd) (Entered: 09/10/2026)

Sep 10, 2026

Order

#6

Sep 11, 2026

SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING by Respondent Christopher J. LaRose . (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Proof of Service)(Metzger, Jacob) (sjt). (Entered: 09/11/2026)

#7

Sep 15, 2026

MINUTE ORDER Requiring Further Supplemental Response. In its September 10, 2026 Minute Order Requiring Supplemental Response, the Court ordered Respondents to "address[] Petitioner's argument that he is entitled to release from detention on the grounds that his re-detention without a valid warrant or lawful process violated his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment." (See ECF No. 5 .) The Court cited to its prior decision in Lopez Lopez v. LaRose, No. 26-cv-4399 TWR (SBC) (S.D. Cal. entered Sept. 10, 2026), ECF No. 10, in which the Court, relying on the Honorable Leslie E. Kobayashi's decision in Diaz Escalante v. LaRose, No. 3:26-CV-04259 LEK-AHG, 2026 WL 2364792 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 14, 2026), "'conclude[d] that Petitioner's detention without a valid warrant or lawful process violate[d] his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment' and that '[o]nly release from detention c[ould]' remedy that Fifth Amendment violation." In Diaz Escalante, Judge Kobayashi explained that the subsequent issuance of a warrant under 8 C.F.R. § 287.3 was "unavailing" because "[Section 287.3] itself presumes a noncitizen's arrest is made consistent with [8 U.S.C. § 1357(a)(2)]." See 2026 WL 2364792, at *4 (citing 8 C.F.R. § 287.3(a)). The Court therefore ORDERS Respondents to file a further supplemental brief on or before September 18, 2026, indicating whether the administrative warrant, (see ECF No. [6-1] at 6), was issued before Petitioner's arrest on July 19, 2026, and, if so, whether the arresting agent had sufficient particularized facts to believe that Petitioner was likely to escape before a warrant could be obtained. See Escobar Molina v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 811 F. Supp. 3d 1, 30 (D.D.C. 2025). (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service) (no document attached) (sxd) (Entered: 09/15/2026)

Sep 15, 2026

Order

#8

Sep 17, 2026

SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING by Respondent Christopher J. LaRose . (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service)(Metzger, Jacob) (sjt). (Entered: 09/17/2026)

#9

Sep 18, 2026

MINUTE ORDER Granting Petition. Having reviewed the record, "the Court 'concludes that Petitioner's detention without a valid warrant or lawful process violate[d] his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment' and that '[o]nly release from detention can' remedy that Fifth Amendment violation.'" Minute Order Granting Petition, Lopez Lopez v. LaRose, No. 26-cv-4399 TWR (SBC) (S.D. Cal. entered Sept. 10, 2026), ECF No. 10 (alterations in original) (quoting Diaz Escalante v. LaRose, No. 3:26-CV-04259 LEK-AHG, 2026 WL 2364792, at *4 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 14, 2026)). The Court therefore GRANTS the 1 Petition, ORDERS Respondents to release Petitioner as soon as practicable, and ENJOINS Respondents from rearresting or re-detaining Petitioner in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1357(a)(2). Because Petitioner is pro se, Respondents SHALL SERVE Petitioner with a copy of this Order. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service) (no document attached) (sxd) Modified on 9/18/2026 (sjt). (Entered: 09/18/2026)

Sep 18, 2026

Order

#10

Sep 30, 2026

Mail Returned as Undeliverable re 9 Minute Order. Mail sent to Wilson Miguel Meja Morales. (sjt) (Entered: 10/01/2026)