District of Connecticut • 3:25-cv-02142

#1

Dec 22, 2025

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

#2

Dec 22, 2025

Admission Pro Hac Vice

#3

Dec 22, 2025

Notice of Related Case

#4

Dec 22, 2025

Seal

Dec 22, 2025

Request for Clerk to issue summons as to Robert F Kennedy Jr., Regina Moller, Noank Community Support Services, Angie Salazar, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement. (Haldeman, Benjamin)

Dec 22, 2025

CASE ASSIGNMENT: District Judge Janet C. Hall assigned to the case. If the District Judge issues an Order of Referral to a Magistrate Judge for any matter other than settlement, the matter will be referred to Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia. (Oliver, T.)

Dec 22, 2025

Request to Issue Summons

#5

Dec 23, 2025

Preliminary Injunction AND Temporary Restraining Order

#6

Dec 23, 2025

Memorandum in Support of Motion

#7

Dec 23, 2025

Seal

#8

Dec 23, 2025

ORDER OF TRANSFER. Case reassigned to Judge Vernon D. Oliver for all further proceedings. SO ORDERED by Judge Janet C. Hall on 12/23/2025. (Barry, L.) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

#9

Dec 23, 2025

NOTICE OF E-FILED CALENDAR: THIS IS THE ONLY NOTICE COUNSEL/THE PARTIES WILL RECEIVE. Telephonic Status Conference set for 12/30/2025 at 10:00 AM before Judge Vernon D. Oliver. Please use the following information for the call: +1 203-684-6202, and Phone conference ID: 375 145 549#. (Dao, J) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

#10

Dec 23, 2025

ORDER. It is hereby ORDERED that counsel for all parties shall appear for a telephonic status conference on December 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The parties shall confer in advance of the conference and submit a joint letter, no later than December 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., indicating whether the conference is necessary and addressing how the Court should handle the petition for habeas corpus and the motion for preliminary injunction. If counsel do not believe a conference is required, and that briefing is appropriate, counsel should propose a briefing schedule (expedited or otherwise) in the joint letter.In order to preserve the status quo and in the event of a hearing requiring the petitioner's presence, it i s hereby ORDERED that E.H.C.F. shall not be moved outside the District of Connecticut without first providing advance notice of the intended move. Such notice shall be filed in writing on the docket in this action, and shall state the reason why the government believes that such a movement is necessary and should not be stayed pending further court proceedings. It is also ORDERED that E.H.C.F. shall not be removed from the United States until further Order of this Court. Ozturk v. Hyde, 1 36 F.4th 382, 394 (2d Cir. 2025) (explaining that a district court has an inherent authority to protect its proceedings); M.K. v. Joyce, No. 25-CV-1935 (JMF), 2025 WL 750599, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 10, 2025).No later than December 24, 2025 , Petitioner's counsel is directed (1) to serve Respondents with a copy of the petition and accompanying papers, along with a copy of this Order, by e-mail to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut and by overnight mail, (2) to notify the United States Attorney's Office of E.H.C.F.'s full name and A number, and (3) to promptly file proof of such service on the docket. Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 12/23/2025.(Dao, J)

#26

Dec 23, 2025

Standing Protective Order Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 12/23/25.(Denault, S) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

#27

Dec 23, 2025

ELECTRONIC FILING ORDER FOR COUNSEL - PLEASE ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH COURTESY COPY REQUIREMENTS IN THIS ORDER Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 12/23/2025.(Denault, S) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

#28

Dec 23, 2025

Notice of Option to Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.(Denault, S) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

#29

Dec 23, 2025

Notice to Counsel and Litigants Regarding AI-Assisted Research: Attorneys and pro se litigants alike should exercise great caution in submitting any AI-generated language in filings before the Court. Use of AI without verification of the accuracy of the information it generates like any other shoddy research method from other sources or tools implicates Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, the central purpose of which is to deter baseless filings in district court and thus to streamline the administration and procedure of the federal courts. Rule 11 applies fully to actions filed by pro se litigants.Therefore, all parties are on notice that the Court has a no-tolerance policy for any briefing (AI-assisted or not) that hallucinates legal propositions or otherwise severely misstates the law. Such filings will often result in sanctions absent reasonable excuse. See generally Willis v. U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n et al, No. 3:25-CV-516-BN, 2025 WL 1408897 (N.D. Tex. May 15, 2025). Signed by Clerk on 12/23/2025.(Denault, S) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

Dec 23, 2025

Calendar Entry

Dec 23, 2025

Order of Transfer

Dec 23, 2025

NEW Case Assignment

Dec 23, 2025

Set Deadlines: Status Report due by 12/29/2025. (Kelsey, N)

#11

Dec 24, 2025

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by E. H. C. F. re 10 Order,,,,,,, (Haldeman, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/24/2025)

Dec 28, 2025

Set Deadlines/Hearings

#12

Dec 29, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Michelle Lynn McConaghy on behalf of Robert F Kennedy, Regina Moller, Noank Community Support Services, Angie Salazar, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#13

Dec 29, 2025

ORDER granting 2 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Attorney Leanne R. Gale. Certificate of Good Standing due by 2/27/2026. Signed by Clerk on 12/29/2025. (Denault, S) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#14

Dec 29, 2025

STATUS REPORT by E. H. C. F.. (Haldeman, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

#15

Dec 29, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Leanne Gale on behalf of E. H. C. F., a minor, by and through his Next Friend, Mileidy Yamaly Contreras Flores (Gale, Leanne) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

Dec 29, 2025

Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice

#16

Dec 30, 2025

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Vernon D. Oliver: Status Conference held on 12/30/2025. Time: 56 minutes. Court Reporter: Corinne Thomas. (Dikler, J) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

#17

Dec 30, 2025

ORDER. For the reasons stated on the record at the status conference held on December 30, 2025, the Court grants 4, 7 motions to seal; grants Respondents’ oral motion to seal the Status Report at ECF No. 14; and grants Petitioner’s oral motion to amend his habeas petition. Petitioner is directed to file that amended petition no later than December 31, 2025 at 10 A.M.Further, the Court enters the following briefing schedule on Petitioner’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction/Temporary Restraining Order (ECF No. 5) (the “Motion”). Respondents wishing to oppose the Motion are directed to file their opposition on or before January 5, 2026. Petitioner may file a reply on or before January 9, 2026. Any anticipated witness testimony shall be supported by declarations filed by January 13, 2026. Oral argument on the Motion will be held on January 15, 2026 at 2 PM. A separate scheduling order will follow.Petitioner must file a notice on the docket as soon as feasible if E.H.C.F. is released to the custody of his mother or sister prior to the January 15, 2026 hearing.Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 12/30/2025. (Dikler, J) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

#18

Dec 30, 2025

NOTICE OF E-FILED CALENDAR re: 5 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order, Emergency MOTION for Preliminary Injunction. THIS IS THE ONLY NOTICE COUNSEL/THE PARTIES WILL RECEIVE. ALL PERSONS ENTERING THE COURTHOUSE MUST PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. Motion Hearing set for 1/15/2026 at 02:00 PM in Courtroom Three, 450 Main St., Hartford, CT before Judge Vernon D. Oliver. Set Deadlines as to 5 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order, Emergency MOTION for Preliminary Injunction: Responses due by 1/5/2026. (Kelsey, N) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

#19

Dec 30, 2025

AMENDED PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed by E. H. C. F..(Gale, Leanne) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

#20

Dec 30, 2025

Sealed Document: Exhibits A-L In Support of Plaintiff-Petitioner's Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief by E. H. C. F. re 19 Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus . (Gale, Leanne) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

#21

Dec 30, 2025

Sealed Document: Exhibits A - L in Support of Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction by E. H. C. F. re 6 Memorandum in Support of Motion, 5 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order Emergency MOTION for Preliminary Injunction . (Haldeman, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

#22

Dec 30, 2025

STATUS REPORT REDACTED by E. H. C. F.. (Haldeman, Benjamin) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

#23

Dec 30, 2025

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by E. H. C. F. re 19 Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, 21 Sealed Document, 20 Sealed Document, (Gale, Leanne) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

Dec 30, 2025

Calendar Entry - Motion Hearing AND Set Motion and Rcmd Ruling Deadlines/Hearings

Dec 30, 2025

Request for Clerk to issue summons as to Department of Homeland Security. (Gale, Leanne)

Dec 30, 2025

Request for Clerk to issue summons as to Kristi Noem. (Gale, Leanne)

Dec 30, 2025

Request to Issue Summons

Dec 30, 2025

Order on Motion to Seal AND Order on Motion to Seal

#24

Dec 31, 2025

ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 and LR 4 as to *Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem* with answer to complaint due within *60* days. Attorney *Leanne Gale* *New Haven Legal Assistance Association* *205 Orange Street* *New Haven, CT 06510*. (Denault, S) (Entered: 12/31/2025)

#25

Jan 05, 2026

OBJECTION re 5 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order Emergency MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Department of Homeland Security, Robert F Kennedy, Regina Moller, Noank Community Support Services, Kristi Noem, Angie Salazar, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Declaration, # 2 Exhibit B - Declaration)(McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 01/05/2026)

Jan 07, 2026

Notice re: AI-Assisted Research

#30

Jan 09, 2026

Reply to Response to Motion

#31

Jan 09, 2026

Seal

#32

Jan 09, 2026

Sealed Document

#33

Jan 12, 2026

Seal

#34

Jan 12, 2026

ORDER granting 31 Motion to Seal. The Court finds that good cause exists to seal Exhibits A-J to Petitioner's Reply in Support of Emergency Motion (ECF No. 30), because the documents contain sensitive information relating to mental health treatment, dismissed juvenile delinquency charges, the scope of legal representation, and sensitive administrative records.Further, the Court sua sponte seals the Motion to Seal itself due to its sensitive nature. Counsel for Petitioner has filed a redacted version of the motion at ECF No. 33.Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 1/12/2026. (Dikler, J) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan 12, 2026

Order on Motion to Seal AND Order on Motion to Seal

#35

Jan 13, 2026

Notice (Other)

#36

Jan 13, 2026

Sealed Motion

#37

Jan 13, 2026

Sealed Document

#38

Jan 13, 2026

Sealed Document

#39

Jan 13, 2026

Sealed Document

#40

Jan 13, 2026

Notice (Other)

#41

Jan 14, 2026

ORDER granting 36 Motion to Seal. The Court finds that good cause exists to seal declarations submitted in support of Petitioner's Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction, because the documents contain sensitive information relating to mental health treatment and dismissed juvenile delinquency charges. Petitioner's counsel is directed to file a redacted version of the instant motion on the docket no later than January 15, 2026.The Court also notes that it has sua sponte sealed ECF Nos. 25, 25-1, 30, and 30-1 because they similarly contain sensitive information. The parties are directed to file redacted versions of those motions no later than January 15, 2026.Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 1/14/2026. (Dikler, J) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

#42

Jan 14, 2026

Objection

#43

Jan 14, 2026

ORDER FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING. The parties should come to oral argument tomorrow, January 15, 2026, prepared to discuss the issue of whether, under the Homeland Security Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, Petitioner E.H.C.F. is properly classified as an unaccompanied alien child (“UAC”), and whether the Office of Refugee Resettlement thus has the authority to hold him in their custody and adjudicate his placement.On or before January 16, 2026 at 5 P.M., the parties shall file their positions in writing on this docket, with their respective briefs not to exceed five (5) pages.Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 1/14/2026. (Dikler, J) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

Jan 14, 2026

Order

Jan 14, 2026

Order on Sealed Motion

#44

Jan 15, 2026

Reply to Response to Motion

#45

Jan 15, 2026

Seal

#46

Jan 16, 2026

Notice (Other)

#47

Jan 16, 2026

Seal

#48

Jan 16, 2026

Sealed Document

#49

Jan 16, 2026

Motion Hearing

#50

Jan 16, 2026

Response

#51

Jan 16, 2026

Witness List

#52

Jan 16, 2026

Response

#53

Jan 16, 2026

ORDER granting 47 Motion to Seal. The Court finds that good cause exists to seal Exhibit L submitted in support of Petitioner's Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction, because the document contains sensitive information relating to mental health treatment.Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 1/16/2026. (Dikler, J) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

#54

Jan 16, 2026

Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for TRO

Jan 16, 2026

Order on Motion to Seal

#55

Jan 21, 2026

ORDER. On or before February 2, 2026, Petitioner-Plaintiff's counsel shall file a notice regarding intended next steps, including, if applicable, whether Petitioner-Plaintiff intends to voluntarily withdraw the amended habeas petition and/or seek to transfer the instant case to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Signed by Judge Vernon D. Oliver on 1/21/2026. (Dikler, J) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

Jan 21, 2026

Order

Jan 21, 2026

Set Deadlines: Petitioner-Plaintiff's Status Report due by 2/2/2026. (Kelsey, N)

Jan 22, 2026

Set Deadlines/Hearings

#56

Jan 30, 2026

Certificate of Good Standing

#57

Jan 30, 2026

Certificate of Good Standing

#58

Feb 02, 2026

Status Report

#59

Feb 03, 2026

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal

Feb 04, 2026

Order

Feb 05, 2026

Judicial Evaluation Program Survey