Eastern District of Virginia • 1:25-cv-02372

#1

Dec 17, 2025

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Filing Fee $5 receipt number AVAEDC-10651557), filed by Xiangyong Cheng. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

#2

Dec 17, 2025

ORDERED that Petitioner shall not be removed from this jurisdiction or the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order; it is further ORDERED that if Petitioner is currently outside of this Court's jurisdiction, or in the process of being transferred outside of it, he must be returned to this jurisdiction unless and until the Court issues a contrary order; it is further ORDERED that on or before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, Petitioner's counsel file with the Court a proposed release plan for the Petitioner, which must include a fixed address at which Petitioner shall reside should the Petition be granted; and it is further ORDERED that on or before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, Respondents SHOW CAUSE as to why the Petition should not be granted. Signed by District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles on 12/17/2025. See Order for further details. (triv) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec 17, 2025

Initial Case Assignment to District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles and Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick. (triv)

#3

Dec 29, 2025

MOTION to Seal by Xiangyong Cheng. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#4

Dec 29, 2025

Memorandum in Support re 3 MOTION to Seal filed by Xiangyong Cheng. (Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#5

Dec 29, 2025

Notice of Filing Sealing Motion LCvR5(C) by Xiangyong Cheng re 3 MOTION to Seal (Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#6

Dec 29, 2025

Sealed Attachment/Exhibit(s) re 3 MOTION to Seal . (Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#7

Dec 29, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Meghan Elizabeth Loftus on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Joseph Simon (Loftus, Meghan) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#8

Dec 29, 2025

Opposition to 1 PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Joseph Simon. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1) (Loftus, Meghan) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#9

Dec 31, 2025

Reply to 8 Opposition, [Dkt. 1] PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Xiangyong Cheng. (Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon) (Entered: 12/31/2025)

#10

Jan 13, 2026

NOTICE by Xiangyong Cheng Petitioner's Status Update (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Immigration Judge order)(Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

#11

Feb 02, 2026

ORDERED that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Dkt. 1) is GRANTED; it isfurther ORDERED that Petitioner be immediately released from custody, with all his personal property, pending his bond hearing before an immigration judge. Petitioner must live at the fixed address identified in his Release Plan (Dkt. 6) and appear at the bond hearing once the government notifies him of its date, lime, and location; it is further ORDERED that Respondents must provide Petitioner with a standard bond hearing pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Order; it is further ORDERED that Respondents are ENJOINED from denying Petitioner release on bond on the basis that he is subject to mandatory detention pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2); it is further ORDERED that Respondents-along with their officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, successors, and assigns, and all persons acting in concert with them-be and are ENJOINED from rearresting Petitioner unless he has committed a new violation of any federal, slate, or local law, or has failed to attend any properly noticed immigration or court hearing, or pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(2); and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a status report on the status of Petitioner's bond hearing within three (3) days of the bond hearing, the status report shall detail when the bond hearing occurred, if the bond was granted or denied, and if denied, the reasons for that denial. Signed by District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles on 2/2/2026. (swil) (Entered: 02/02/2026)

#12

Feb 02, 2026

CLERK'S JUDGMENT is hereby entered in accordance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 58 in favor of the Petitioner Xiangyong Cheng and against the Respondents Kristi Noem, Todd M. Lyons, Joseph Simon, Pamela Bondi and Jeffrey Crawford. Entered by Clerk on 2/2/2026. (swil) (Entered: 02/02/2026)

#13

Feb 10, 2026

STATUS REPORT by Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Joseph Simon. (Schmidt, Robert) (Entered: 02/10/2026)