Eastern District of California • 1:25-cv-01863

#1

Dec 15, 2025

(2241) PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against Current or Acting United States Attorney General, Current or Acting Director, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Current or Acting Field Office Director, San Francisco Field Office, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Warden of the Golden State Annex Detention Facility, Current or Acting Secretary, United States Department of Homeland Security by Sukhchain Singh. (Deputy Clerk CRM) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

#2

Dec 15, 2025

MOTION to PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS by Sukhchain Singh. (Deputy Clerk CRM) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

#3

Dec 15, 2025

MOTION to APPOINT COUNSEL by Sukhchain Singh. (Deputy Clerk CRM) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

#4

Dec 16, 2025

PRISONER NEW CASE DOCUMENTS and ORDER RE CONSENT ISSUED. Consent or Decline due by 1/20/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Consent Form) (Deputy Clerk CRM) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

#5

Dec 16, 2025

ORDER signed by Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 12/16/2025 GRANTING 2 Motion to Proceed IFP, GRANTING 3 Motion to Appoint Counsel, and DIRECTING Respondents to file any Opposition to Petitioner's Request for Injunctive Relief by noo n on 12/19/2025; Petitioner may file a reply, if any, by 12/23/2025,. The Clerk is DIRECTED to serve a copy of this Order together with a copy of 1 Application for writ of habeas corpus on the Federal Defender and the United States Attorney. The Cl erk of the Court is DIRECTED to update the docket to only list Petitioner's first name and last initial. The appointing authority for the Eastern District of California shall identify counsel and send counsel's contact information to Michele Krueger within 7 days from the date of this Order. (cc: Federal Defender Habeas Appointment, United States Attorney) (Deputy Clerk OML)

Dec 16, 2025

Service by Mail

Dec 16, 2025

SERVICE BY MAIL: 4 Prisoner New Case Documents served on Sukhchain Singh. (Deputy Clerk CRM)

Dec 16, 2025

SERVICE BY MAIL: 5 Order served on Sukhchain Singh. (Deputy Clerk OML)

#7

Dec 19, 2025

MOTION to DISMISS and Response to the Petition by Respondents; OPPOSITION to Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Motion for Temporary Restraining Order. Attorney Veneman-Hughes, Robert added. (Veneman-Hughes, Robert) Modified on 12/23/2025 (KS). (Entered: 12/19/2025)

#8

Dec 22, 2025

ORDER signed by Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 12/22/2025 ORDERING Petitioner's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order GRANTED. The bond requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(c) is waived. Petitioner Sukhchain S. shall be R ELEASED IMMEDIATELY from Respondents' custody. Respondents must file a notice certifying compliance with this provision of the Court's Order by 5:00 p.m. on 12/23/2025. Respondents are ENJOINED and RESTRAINED from re-arresting or re-detaini ng Petitioner absent compliance with constitutional protections, including seven day notice and a hearing before a neutral fact-finder where Respondents show: (a) there are material changed circumstances which demonstrate that there is a significant likelihood of Petitioners removal in the reasonably foreseeable future, or (b) Respondents demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that Petitioner poses a danger to the community or a flight risk. At any such hearing, Petitioner shall be allowed to have counsel present. Respondents are ordered to SHOW CAUSE why this Court should not convert this temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction requiring Respondents to continue to abide by this Courts order. Respondents shall file r esponsive papers by 12/29/2025. Petitioner may file a reply, if any, by 1/5/2025, by 12:00 p.m. If the parties agree upon a less demanding briefing schedule, the Court will consider the parties' proposal. The matter is not set for a hearing though the Court may set one should it later be determined that a hearing is necessary. (Deputy Clerk MDK)

Dec 22, 2025

Service by Mail

Dec 22, 2025

SERVICE BY MAIL: 8 Order served on Sukhchain Singh. (Deputy Clerk MDK)

#9

Dec 23, 2025

MINUTE ORDER issued by Courtroom Deputy for Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on December 23, 2025: The Appointing Authority for the Eastern District of California/ Office of the Federal Defender has requested an extension until January 8, 2026 to locate counsel in this case. The Court GRANTS the extension. By January 8, 2026, the appointing authority shall identify counsel and send counsel's contact information to Michele Krueger, Courtroom Deputy for Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley, via email at mkrueger@caed.uscourts.gov, who shall update the docket to reflect counsel's appointment. Petitioner deadline to file a reply, if any, is accordingly extended to January 12, 2026. The Clerk of Court shall serve a copy of this Order and the Court's December 22, 2025 (ECF No. 8 ) on the Federal Defender, Attention: Habeas Appointment. (TEXT ONLY ENTRY) (Deputy Clerk MDK) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

#10

Dec 23, 2025

NOTICE of COMPLIANCE by All Respondents. (Veneman-Hughes, Robert) Modified on 1/8/2026 (HAH). (Entered: 12/23/2025)

Dec 23, 2025

Minute Order

Dec 23, 2025

SERVICE BY MAIL: 9 Minute Order served on Sukhchain S. (Deputy Clerk MDK)

Dec 23, 2025

Service by Mail

#11

Dec 29, 2025

OPPOSITION to Preliminary Injunction by All Respondents. (Veneman-Hughes, Robert) Modified on 1/8/2026 (HAH). (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#12

Jan 06, 2026

ORDER signed by Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 1/6/2026 ORDERING that for the reasons stated in the Courts's Order on Petitioner's Motion for a TRO (ECF No. 8 ), the Court GRANTS a preliminary injunction. Respondents are ENJOINED A ND RESTRAINED from re-arresting or re-detaining Petitioner absent compliance with constitutional protections, including seven-day notice and a hearing before a neutral fact-finder where Respondents show: (a) there are material changed circumstances w hich demonstrate that there is a significant likelihood of Petitioners removal in the reasonably foreseeable future, or (b)Respondents demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that Petitioner poses a danger to the community or a flight risk. At any such hearing, Petitioner shall be allowed to have counsel present. Pursuant to Local Rule 302, this matter is hereby REFERRED to the assigned Magistrate Judge for further proceedings. (Deputy Clerk MDK)

Jan 06, 2026

MAIL RETURNED as Undeliverable; Return to Sender; Not Deliverable as Addressed; Unable to Forward; Detainee Not in Custody: 8 Order sent to Sukhchain Singh. Notice of Change of Address due by 2/13/2026. (Deputy Clerk OML)

Jan 06, 2026

Service by Mail

Jan 06, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 12 Order served on Sukhchain S. (Deputy Clerk MDK)

#13

Jan 07, 2026

MOTION to APPOINT CJA COUNSEL Pro Hac Vice to Practice in the California Eastern District and Extend Meet and Confer and Briefing Dates by the Federal Defender for Petitioner. (Deputy Clerk MDK) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

#14

Jan 07, 2026

ORDER signed by Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 01/07/26 GRANTING 13 Motion to Appoint Counsel. Leila Sayed-Taha is APPOINTED to represent Petitioner Sukhchain S., nunc pro tunc to 12/29/25 and the time is EXTENDED for new Counsel to meet and confer with opposing counsel on their briefing schedule and to jointly file that schedule with the court within one 1 week of this Order. (cc FD Habeas Appointment) (Deputy Clerk KML)

Jan 07, 2026

MAIL RETURNED as NIC: 9 Minute Order, sent to Sukhchain S. (Deputy Clerk LMS)

Jan 15, 2026

MAIL RETURNED as Undeliverable, detainee not in custody: 12 Order sent to Sukhchain S. Notice of Change of Address due by 2/23/2026. (Deputy Clerk KEZ)

#15

Jan 26, 2026

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis M. Cota on 1/26/2026 DIRECTING Respondent to file a response within 60 days. Respondent shall include with the response any and all transcripts or other documents relevant to the determination of the issues presented in the habeas application. Petitioner's reply, if any, is due within 30 days from the date Respondent's response is filed. (Deputy Clerk OML)

#16

Apr 15, 2026

ORDER to SHOW CAUSE signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis M. Cota on 4/14/2026 ORDERING Respondents to Show Cause within three days of the date of this order why the undersigned should not recommend granting the petition for Respondents' failure to comply with court orders. (Deputy Clerk LMS)

#17

Apr 16, 2026

RESPONSE to 16 ORDER to SHOW CAUSE by Current or Acting Director, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Current or Acting Field Office Director, San Francisco Field Office, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Current or Acting Secretary, United States Department of Homeland Security, Current or Acting United States Attorney General, Warden of the Golden State Annex ICE Detention Facility. (Veneman-Hughes, Robert) (Entered: 04/16/2026)

#18

Apr 20, 2026

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis M. Cota on 4/17/2026 DISCHARGING respondents from the 16 Order to Show Cause. Respondents shall inform the Court within 30 days of the date of this order, whether they stand on their prior filing or file a new response. The Court will accept Respondents' failure to timely file a response as a decision to stand on the prior filing and not argue mootness. Petitioner shall have 60 days from the date of this order to reply. (Deputy Clerk KLY)

#20

Jul 14, 2026

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis M. Cota on 07/14/26 RECOMMENDING that 7 Motion to Dismiss be denied and 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus be granted. Referred to Judge Troy L. Nunley. Objections due within 7 days after being served with these findings and recommendations. (Deputy Clerk VLC)