Western District of Louisiana • 1:26-cv-04183
Cahuec-Ventura v. Elizabeth Contract Detention Center
Active
Case Information
Filed: October 09, 2026
Assigned to:
Alexander C. Van Hook
Referred to:
David J. Ayo
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause:
28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federa
Active
Last Activity:
November 03, 2026
Parties:
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Docket Entries
#1
Sep 30, 2026
PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $5 receipt number NEW55358.), filed by MIGUEL CAHUEC-VENTURA.(ps) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/02/2026)
Main Document:
PETITION
#2
Oct 02, 2026
ORDER. Respondents are hereby enjoined from transferring Petitioner from New Jersey pending further Order of the Court. Signed by Judge Brian R. Martinotti on 10/2/2026. (ps) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/02/2026)
Main Document:
ORDER.
#3
Oct 02, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance by CHRISTIAN CARRARA on behalf of WARDEN, ELIZABETH CONTRACT DETENTION CENTER (CARRARA, CHRISTIAN) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/02/2026)
Main Document:
NOTICE
#4
Oct 02, 2026
Letter from Respondent Re. Petitioner's Location and Request to Stay Order. (CARRARA, CHRISTIAN) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/02/2026)
Main Document:
Letter
#5
Oct 05, 2026
TEXT ORDER: Before the Court is Respondents' letter requesting the Court transfer this matter to the Western District of Louisiana. (ECF No. 4.) Respondents submit that Petitioner was transferred to Louisiana prior to filing his Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (See id.) Respondents have not provided any documentation to support their position. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that within three day of the entry of the this Text Order Respondents shall provide the Court with documentation showing the Petitioner was transferred to Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana prior to filing his Petition here. So Ordered by Judge Brian R. Martinotti on 10/05/2026. (lr, ) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/05/2026)
#6
Oct 06, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance by THOMAS JEFFREY COGHLAN on behalf of WARDEN, ELIZABETH CONTRACT DETENTION CENTER (COGHLAN, THOMAS) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/06/2026)
Main Document:
NOTICE
Oct 07, 2026
CLERK'S QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - The case you electronically filed did not include a Civil Cover Sheet (JS-44), which is required to be submitted along with the initial pleading, as indicated in the Attorney Case Opening Guide. Please complete and file a Civil Cover Sheet using the event Exhibit (to Document) found under Civil/Other Filings/Other Documents. Please refer to the Attorney Case Opening Guide for processing electronically filed cases. (vm) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.]
#7
Oct 08, 2026
Letter from Thomas Coghlan. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit)(COGHLAN, THOMAS) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/08/2026)
Main Document:
Letter
#9
Oct 08, 2026
Civil Cover Sheet from MIGUEL CAHUEC-VENTURA. (Received via ADS) (sm) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/09/2026)
Main Document:
Civil Cover Sheet
#8
Oct 09, 2026
TEXT ORDER: Before the Court is Petitioner Miguel Cahuec-Ventura's ("Petitioner") Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ("Petition") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging Petitioner's continued detention by immigration authorities (ECF No. 1) and Respondents' letter request to transfer this matter to the Western District of Louisianna (ECF No. 7). Respondents submit that Petitioner was transferred from Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey on September 29, 2026, and was booked into Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana on the same day. (Id.) The Court received Petitioner's Petition was signed and received by the Court on September 30, 2026. (See ECF No. 1.) The sole proper respondent in a petition brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 is the warden of the facility where the detainee is currently being held. See Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 436 (2004); Yi v. Maugans, 24 F.3d 500, 507 (3d Cir. 1994). Petitioner was confined in the Western District of Louisianna at the time the Petition was filed. Therefore, the only proper respondent would be the Warden of Petitioner's Detention Center in Louisiana, where Petitioner was confined when the Petition was filed. District courts "are limited to granting habeas relief 'within their respective jurisdictions.' 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a)." Padilla, 542 U.S. at 442. A writ of habeas corpus pursuant to § 2241 may therefore only be issued by the district court in which the petitioner is currently confined, in this case the Western District of Louisiana, which has jurisdiction over Winnfield, Louisiana. Id.; see also Yi v. Maugans, 24 F.3d 500, 507 (3d Cir. 1994) ("[a] district court's habeas corpus jurisdiction is territorially limited and extends only to persons detained and custodial officials acting within the boundaries of that district"). Because Petitioner is challenging his continued detention in Louisiana, this Court finds that it would be in the interests of justice to transfer this matter to the appropriate court, in this case the Western District of Louisiana District Court. 28 U.S.C. § 1631. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall TRANSFER this action to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and CLOSE this matter. So Ordered by Judge Brian R. Martinotti on 10/09/2026. (lr, ) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.] (Entered: 10/09/2026)
#10
Oct 09, 2026
DISTRICT CASE transferred in from District of New Jersey; Case Number 2:26-cv-12909. Original file copy of transfer order and docket sheet received (Entered: 10/09/2026)
Main Document:
District Transfer In
Oct 09, 2026
CASE Assigned to Judge Alexander C Van Hook and Magistrate Judge David J Ayo. (crt,Devillier, W)
Oct 09, 2026
Terminate Case (Private Entry)
Oct 09, 2026
Order Transferring Case to Another District
Oct 09, 2026
***Civil Case Terminated. (wh) [Transferred from New Jersey on 10/9/2026.]
#11
Oct 19, 2026
NOTICE of Standing Order 1.73 regarding the provisional appointment of the Federal Public Defender. (crt,Devillier, W) (Entered: 10/19/2026)
Main Document:
Notice of Standing Order 1.73
#12
Oct 19, 2026
NOTICE of Standing Order 1.74 regarding service and scheduling in immigration habeas cases. (crt,Devillier, W) (Entered: 10/19/2026)
Main Document:
Notice of Standing Order 1.74
#13
Oct 19, 2026
PROPOSED TRANSFER ORDER Referred to Magistrate Judge David J Ayo. Motion Ripe Deadline set for 10/19/2026. (crt,Devillier, W) (Entered: 10/19/2026)
Main Document:
Proposed Order (Court User Only/Public Entry No NEF)
Oct 19, 2026
Case Assigned/Reassigned
#14
Oct 20, 2026
TRANSFER ORDER regarding admission status of counsel. Signed by Magistrate Judge David J Ayo on 10/20/2026. (crt,Thomas, T) (Entered: 10/23/2026)
#15
Nov 03, 2026
Substitute Attorney
Main Document:
Substitute Attorney
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