District of Nevada • 3:26-cv-00718

#1

Sep 23, 2026

RECEIPT of Initiating Documents by Court on behalf of Petitioner. No Application to Proceed IFP or Filing Fee received. (Attachments: # 1 Petition for Writ Of Habeas Corpus) (JQC) (Entered: 09/24/2026)

#2

Sep 24, 2026

NOTICE from USDC advising case against Jason Knight, et al., has been received and assigned case number 3:26-cv-00718-RFB-CSD. (JQC) (Entered: 09/24/2026)

#3

Sep 24, 2026

ORDER - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Respondents are ENJOINED from removing, or transferring, Petitioner outside of the District of Nevada pending further order of the Court. The Court DEFERS consideration of Petitioner's filing fee, or application to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP Application"), until Petitioner has an informed opportunity to properly satisfy these requirements with the assistance of counsel. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Petitioner must either pay the filing fee or submit an IFP Application within 10 days. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the Clerk of Court is respectfully instructed to attach a copy of the Court's standard IFP Application to this Order. (Sent on 9/24/2026). IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the Federal Public Defender for the United States District of Nevada ("FPD") is APPOINTED to represent Petitioner. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is kindly directed to SEND a copy of this Order to the FPD and CJA Resource Counsel. (Ad hoc on 9/24/2026). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the FPD must FILE a notice of appearance or ADVISE the Court and CJA Resource Counsel that it cannot represent Petitioner, within 2 days of this Order being docketed in this case. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is respectfully instructed to ADD the FPD to the docket as an "Attorney to be Noticed" using the following email address: ecf_nvchu@fd.org. (Ad hoc on 9/24/2026). IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Respondents must PRODUCE the following records, which are relevant to the lawfulness of Petitioner's detention. (See Order for details). Respondents must PRODUCE these documents Petitioner's Counsel within 3 days of this Order being docketed in this case. Within 3 days, Respondents must file a response that SHOWS CAUSE for Petitioner' detention by "certifying [its] true cause." 28 U.S.C. § 2243. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the Clerk of Court is respectfully instructed to ADD the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada to the docket as an Interested Party. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED Petitioner, with the assistance of counsel, must serve the warden of the facility where they are detained with a copy of their petition and this Order within 4 days. Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 9/24/2026. (Attachments: # 1 IFP Form with Instructions) (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - GA) (Entered: 09/24/2026)

Sep 24, 2026

Case assigned to Judge Richard F. Boulware, II and Magistrate Judge Craig S. Denney. Based upon judicial economy and the efficient use of court resources, the judges of this District have decided that all immigration habeas cases shall be initially assigned to one district judge during the screening process. Accordingly, this case is directly assigned to Judge Richard F. Boulware, II until further order by the Court. Nature of Suit: 463 - Habeas Immigration (JQC)

Sep 24, 2026

Assign Judge RFB in Immigration Case

#4

Sep 25, 2026

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS of the Honorable Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 9/25/2026. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Court joins Petitioner's immediate custodian as a necessary party to this case. Federal courts may add necessary parties to a proceeding sua sponte. See CP Nat. Corp. v. Bonneville Power Admin, 928 F.2d 905, 911 (9th Cir. 1991); Est. of Mendez v. City of Ceres, 390 F. Supp. 3d 1189, 1200 (E.D. Cal. 2019) (same). Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19(a), the Court "must order that [a] person be made a party" if it "cannot accord complete relief among existing parties." Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(a); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 81 (clarifying that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally govern habeas corpus proceedings). It is well-settled that the proper respondent in habeas challenges to present physical confinement is "the warden of the facility where the [Petitioner] is being held"; after all, the warden serves as the Petitioner's "immediate custodian." Doe v. Garland, 109 F.4th 1188, 1195 (9th Cir. 2024) (citations omitted). Since the Warden of the Henderson Detention Center is "the person with the ability to produce [Petitioner]" before this Court, the Court concludes that they are a necessary party to this habeas proceeding, as they are ultimately responsible for effectuating Petitioner's release from unlawful confinement. See Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 43536 (2004) (citations and quotation marks omitted) (emphasis added). Therefore, IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED Reggie Radar is JOINED to this case as a necessary party. (no image attached) (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - CH) (Entered: 09/25/2026)

#5

Sep 25, 2026

ORDER. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner, with the assistance of counsel, must file a signed petition that pertains to themself by October 5, 2026. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner, with the help of counsel, must either pay the $5 filing fee or file a completed application to proceed in forma pauperis by October 5, 2026. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this proceeding will be dismissed without prejudice if Petitioner fails to timely comply with this Order. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Petitioner the approved form Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 with instructions and the approved form Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Short Form). The Clerk of Court is FURTHER DIRECTED to update Petitioner's address on the docket to Henderson Detention Center, P.O. Box 95050, Henderson, NV 89009-5050. Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 9/25/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, # 2 Information for Filing an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis by an Inmate Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915) (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - RJDG) (Entered: 09/25/2026)

Sep 25, 2026

Warden Joinder Minute Order

#6

Sep 28, 2026

RESPONSE to 1 Receipt of Initiating Documents by Respondent Reggie Radar. (Orme, Christian) (Entered: 09/28/2026)

#7

Sep 28, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Sylvia A. Irvin, Assistant Federal Public Defender appearing for Petitioner Vadim Merkulov. (no image attached) (Irvin, Sylvia) (Entered: 09/28/2026)

Sep 28, 2026

Notice of Appearance - AFPD Immigration only

#8

Sep 29, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Tamer Botros Botros, Assistant United States Attorney appearing for Respondents Pamela J. Bondi, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Las Vegas Immigration Court, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Sirce Owen, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (no image attached) (Botros, Tamer) (Entered: 09/29/2026)

#9

Sep 29, 2026

RESPONSE to 3 RFB Service Order - ProSe Imm Hab Pet,,,,,,,,, by Respondents Pamela J. Bondi, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Las Vegas Immigration Court, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Sirce Owen, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Documents Pertaining to Petitioner, # 2 Exhibit B - Answers to Interrogatories)(Botros, Tamer) (Entered: 09/29/2026)

Sep 29, 2026

Notice of Appearance - AUSA Immigration only

#10

Oct 05, 2026

Motion Extend/Shorten Time

Oct 06, 2026

Notice of Appearance - AFPD Immigration only

#12

Oct 07, 2026

Notice Voluntary Dismissal