District of New Jersey • 2:25-cv-18793

#1

Dec 19, 2025

First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Unlawfully Detained Noncitizen (SIJ/ Deferred Action) ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-16928147.), filed by RONALDO VALDEZ ROMERO. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet)(SIMBRON, NOEMI) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec 21, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge Evelyn Padin. (mfr)

Dec 21, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

#2

Dec 22, 2025

TEXT ORDER: Petitioner alleges he is unlawfully detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225. Under this Court's recent decisions in Lomeu v. Soto, No. 25-16589, 2025 WL 2981256 (D.N.J. Oct. 23, 2025) (interpreting § 1225(b)(2)), Rivas Rodriguez v. Rokosky, No. 25-17419, 2025 WL 3485628 (D.N.J. Dec. 3, 2025) (interpreting § 1225(b)(1)), and other recent decisions in this District interpreting § 1225, the Court holds that Petitioner is subject to detention under § 1226(a).It is ORDERED that, in accordance with 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), within 7 days of the date of entry of this Text Order, Respondents shall provide Petitioner with an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge who shall assess whether he presents a flight risk or a danger to the community. 8 C.F.R. §§ 236.1(c)(8), (d)(1). Within 3 days of that bond hearing, Respondents shall file a written notice of the outcome of that hearing with this Court. If Respondents contend that Petitioner's detention is distinguishable from the cases in this district previously addressing §1225, they shall file an expedited answer within 5 days of the date of entry of this Text Order, and Petitioner may file a reply within 3 days of the date of filing of Respondents' expedited answer. So Ordered by Judge Evelyn Padin on 12/22/2025. (bt) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec 22, 2025

Text Order

#3

Dec 29, 2025

Letter

#4

Dec 29, 2025

Substitution of Attorney

#5

Jan 02, 2026

Letter

#6

Jan 02, 2026

Letter

#7

Jan 05, 2026

TEXT ORDER: Petitioner Ronaldo Valdez Romero has filed a letter request for immediate release from unlawful detention by immigration authorities, D.E. 3 ("Letter Request") in this habeas proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. On December 22, 2025, this Court granted habeas relief, holding that Petitioner is being unlawfully detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225, and ordered that Respondents provide him with a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and 8 C.F.R. § 236.1(c)(8) and (d)(1) within seven days, D.E. 2 ("Text Order"). Petitioner asserts that during his bond redetermination hearing on December 27, 2025, the Immigration Judge informed Petitioner's counsel that they would not read Petitioner's bond packet that day because it was submitted during the Christmas holiday. Letter Request at 1. Petitioner's counsel has also represented that it is typical for Immigration Judges to review bond packets the same day of the hearing. Id. But the Judge's refusal to do so forced counsel to choose between continuing without submission of evidence on behalf of Petitioner or withdrawing the bond redetermination request. Id. Therefore, Petitioner seeks from this Court the immediate release based on Respondents failure to conduct the bond hearing as ordered. Id.It is unclear why the Immigration Judge did not review Petitioner's bond packet. Nevertheless, the Court is not convinced that the appropriate remedy is Petitioner's immediate release. Therefore, Petitioner's Letter Request, is DENIED. However, the Court ORDERS that Petitioner's bond hearing be held within 48 hours of this Order. If the Immigration Judge is unable to do so, the Court directs the parties to meet-and-confer regarding a temporary release of Petitioner from custody given that Respondents have failed to comply with this Court's previous Text Order, which Ordered that Petitioner be given an individualized bond hearing within seven days of that order. So Ordered by Judge Evelyn Padin on 1/5/2025. (bt) (Entered: 01/05/2026)

Jan 05, 2026

Text Order

#8

Jan 07, 2026

Letter

#9

Jan 08, 2026

TEXT ORDER: TEXT ORDER: This Court granted Petitioner's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and ordered Respondents to provide Petitioner with a bond hearing. See D.Es. 2 & 7 . The Court has reviewed the Government's status update, D.E. 8, apprising the Court of the outcome of Petitioner's bond hearing. Accordingly, this matter is CLOSED. So Ordered by Judge Evelyn Padin on 1/8/2026. (bt) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan 08, 2026

Text Order