Eastern District of Virginia • 1:26-cv-00202

#1

Jan 21, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number AVAEDC-10727117.), filed by Cristhian Mares Garcia. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2)(Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

Jan 21, 2026

Initial Case Assignment to District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema and Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis. (dvanm)

#2

Jan 22, 2026

ORDERED that petitioner IS NOT to be removed or transferred from this district for any reason without this Court's permission. ORDERED that on or before 5:00 PM on January 28, 2026, the federal respondents file either a Notice indicating that the factual and legal issues presented in this Petition do not differ in any material fashion from those presented in Ceba Cinta v. Noem, et al., 1:25-cv-1818 (E.D. Va.), or an Opposition to the Petition discussing the material differences between Ceba Cinta and this Petition. ORDERED that if the federal respondents file a Notice that there are no material differences between this Petition and Ceba Cinta, each of the substantive filings in that habeas proceeding will be incorporated into this habeas proceeding, and this Court will issue a ruling without further filings from the parties. ORDERED that if the federal respondents file an Opposition to the Petition, petitioner shall file any reply in further support of the Petition on or before 5:00 PM on February 3, 2026. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 1/22/2026. (kgall) (Entered: 01/22/2026)

#3

Jan 26, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Virginia Lynn Van Valkenburg on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem (Van Valkenburg, Virginia) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

#4

Jan 26, 2026

NOTICE by Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem re 2 Order,,,, (Van Valkenburg, Virginia) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

#5

Jan 28, 2026

ORDERED that Garcias Petition, [Dkt. No. 1], is GRANTED, and it is hereby ORDERED that Garcia be promptly released from custody, with all his personal property, pending his bond hearing before an Immigration Judge. Garcia must live at a fixed address which he must provide to the federal respondents; and it is further ORDERED that respondents provide Garcia with a standard bond hearing before an Immigration Judge pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) within 14 days of the date of this Order (See Order for further details). Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 1/28/2026. (Sbro, ) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#6

Jan 28, 2026

JUDGMENT is hereby entered in favor of Petitioner Cristhian Mares Garcia and against Respondents Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Pamela Bondi, Robert Guardian, Warden, Caroline Detention Facility Pursuant to the Order of this Court entered on January 28, 2026 and in accordance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 58. Signed by Clerk on 1/28/2026. (Sbro, ) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#7

Feb 13, 2026

STATUS REPORT by Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Schmidt, Robert) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

#8

Feb 17, 2026

MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by Cristhian Mares Garcia. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Petitioner's Motion to Enforce Order Granting Petition for Writ of Habes Corpus, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Proposed Order)(Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

#9

Feb 18, 2026

ORDERED that the federal respondents respond to petitioner's pleading by February 23, 2026. Any reply from petitioner is due by February 27, 2026; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk's Office reopen this civil action Additionally, because petitioner's Motion to Enforce Order Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus contains sensitive personal identifiers, it is further ORDERED that the Clerk's Office seal the entirety of Exhibit B, [Dkt. No. 8-4]. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 2/18/2026. (swil) (Entered: 02/18/2026)

Feb 18, 2026

Notice of Correction: The filing user is notified to file a notice of hearing or waiver. The filing user is also notified to file the memorandum in support and attached exhibits as a separate docket entry re 8 MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Sbro, )

#10

Feb 19, 2026

Consent MOTION to Seal Exhibits by Cristhian Mares Garcia. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#11

Feb 19, 2026

Notice of Filing Sealing Motion LCvR5(C) by Cristhian Mares Garcia re 10 Consent MOTION to Seal Exhibits (Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#12

Feb 19, 2026

Sealed Attachment/Exhibit(s) re 10 Consent MOTION to Seal Exhibits. (Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#13

Feb 19, 2026

Sealed Attachment/Exhibit(s). (Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#14

Feb 20, 2026

ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED in re 10 Motion to Seal. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 2/20/2026. (swil) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#15

Feb 20, 2026

Memorandum in Support re 8 MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Cristhian Mares Garcia. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2)(Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#16

Feb 20, 2026

Sealed Attachment/Exhibit(s) re 15 Memorandum in Support. (Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#17

Feb 20, 2026

Sealed Attachment/Exhibit(s) re 15 Memorandum in Support. (Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#18

Feb 20, 2026

Notice of Hearing Date re 8 MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#19

Feb 23, 2026

RESPONSE in Opposition re 8 MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Van Valkenburg, Virginia) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

Feb 23, 2026

Motion Hearing set for 3/6/2026 at 10:00 AM in Alexandria Courtroom 700 before District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema as to 8 MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (dzir)

#20

Feb 27, 2026

REPLY to Response to Motion re 8 MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Cristhian Mares Garcia. (Jezic, Tamara) (Entered: 02/27/2026)

#21

Mar 05, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Robert Jacob Schmidt on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem (Schmidt, Robert) (Entered: 03/05/2026)

#22

Mar 06, 2026

Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema: Motion Hearing held on 3/6/2026. Appearance of counsel. Argument heard. Comments of the Court; 8 MOTION to Enforce Judgment Granting Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - GRANTED. Petitioner to be released immediately. Order to follow. (Court Reporter S. Austin)(kgall) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

#23

Mar 06, 2026

ORDER granting 8 Motion to Enforce Judgment. ORDERED that petitioner be promptly released from custody, with all his personal property so that he may receive a new bond hearing before an Immigration Judge. ORDERED that by March 13, 2026, the federal respondents provide petitioner with an individualized, constitutionally compliant bond hearing pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). As stated in open court, a bond hearing fails to comport with due process where an Immigration Judge relies on considerations that would lead to an automatic denial of bond in most, if not all, cases or on considerations that are not rationally related to whether a petitioner is a flight risk or danger to the community. ORDERED that by March 17, 2026, the federal respondents file a status report with the Court stating whether petitioner has been granted bond, and, if his request for bond was denied, the reasons for that denial. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 3/6/2026. (kgall) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

#24

Mar 09, 2026

TRANSCRIPT of motions hearing held on 3-6-26, before Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, Court Reporter/Transcriber Stephanie Austin, Telephone number 607-743-1894. NOTICE RE REDACTION OF TRANSCRIPTS:The parties have thirty(30) calendar days to file with the Court a Notice of Intent to Request Redaction of this transcript. If no such Notice is filed, the transcript will be made remotely electronically available to the public without redaction after 90 calendar days. The policy is located on our website at www.vaed.uscourts.gov Transcript may be viewed at the court public terminal or purchased through the court reporter/transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through PACER Redaction Request due 4/8/2026. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 5/11/2026. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 6/8/2026.(Austin, Stephanie) (Entered: 03/09/2026)

#25

Mar 16, 2026

STATUS REPORT by Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Schmidt, Robert) (Entered: 03/16/2026)

#26

May 04, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 23 ORDER by Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Van Valkenburg, Virginia) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

#27

May 04, 2026

Transmission of Notice of Appeal to US Court of Appeals in re 26 NOTICE OF APPEAL (All case opening forms, plus the transcript guidelines, may be obtained from the Fourth Circuit's website at www.ca4.uscourts.gov) (triv) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

#28

May 06, 2026

USCA 4th Circuit Case Number 26-6566, Case Manager A. Walker as to 26 NOTICE OF APPEAL. (triv) (Entered: 05/06/2026)