Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-00702

#1

Jan 26, 2026

PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against All Defendants by Rafael Espinoza. (Filing fee $ 5, receipt number ACAEDC-12811421) (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet) (Bhatnagar, Nikhil) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

#2

Jan 27, 2026

PRISONER NEW CASE DOCUMENTS and ORDER RE CONSENT ISSUED. Consent or Decline due by 3/2/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Litigant Letter) (Deputy Clerk jn) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

#3

Jan 28, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Anthony Andrews for Sergio Albarran,Anthony Andrews for Tonya Andrews,Anthony Andrews for Pamela Bondi,Anthony Andrews for Todd Lyons,Anthony Andrews for Kristi Noem (Andrews, Anthony) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#4

Jan 28, 2026

CONSENT/DECLINE of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1), this document is restricted to attorneys and court staff only. Judges do not have access to view this document and will be informed of a party's response only if all parties have consented to the referral. (Andrews, Anthony) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#5

Jan 28, 2026

**VACATED PURSUANT TO 12 ORDER** ORDER to Respond; ORDER SETTING Briefing Schedule; ORDER to Electronically File Transcripts and Other Necessary Documents; ORDER DIRECTING Clerk of Court to Serve Documents, signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 1/28/2026. Within THIRTY (30) days of the date of service of this order, Respondent SHALL FILE a RESPONSE to the Petition. Within THIRTY (30) days after service of this order, Respondent SHALL FILE any and all transcripts or other documents necessary for the resolution of the issues presented in the Petition. (Deputy Clerk OFR) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#6

Jan 28, 2026

ORDER RE CONSENT OR REQUEST FOR REASSIGNMENT, signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 1/28/2026. Respondent SHALL COMPLETE and RETURN to the Court within THIRTY (30) days a Consent/Decline form indicating whether Respondent consents or declines to consent to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1). (Deputy Clerk OFR) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#7

Jan 28, 2026

DOCUMENT(S) SERVED ELECTRONICALLY: 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, 5 Order, 6 Order Re Consent or Request for Reassignment served on the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California. (Deputy Clerk OFR) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#8

Jan 29, 2026

**DISREGARDED AS MOOT PURSUANT TO 10 ORDER** MOTION to PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS by Rafael Espinoza Mendoza. (Bhatnagar, Nikhil) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

#9

Jan 29, 2026

MOTION for TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by Rafael Espinoza Mendoza. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Affidavit, # 3 Proposed Order, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit 2, # 7 Supplement, # 8 Supplement Exhibit List)(Bhatnagar, Nikhil) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

#10

Jan 29, 2026

ORDER DISREGARDING 8 Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis as Moot, signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 1/29/2026. (Deputy Clerk OFR) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

#11

Jan 30, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Entry Only) ORDER DENYING TRO; ORDER PREVENTING TRANSFER PENDING FURTHER COURT ORDER; andORDER FOR STAY OF REMOVAL PENDING FURTHER COURT ORDER The Court has reviewed the Petition filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (Doc. 1 ) and the related request for emergency injunctive relief (Doc. 9 ). Petitioner asserts that he has been detained since July 9, 2025, (Doc. 1 at 5 (para. 21)), more than six months ago. Petitioner indicates his mother recently passed away and requests to be released in time to attend her funeral. (Doc. 9 at 7.) He also has a 19-year-old son who has struggled since Petitioner's re-detention, as well as an aging father who has looked to Petitioner for assistance. (Id. at 6-7.) The Court is sympathetic to these circumstances, but Petitioner's habeas claims are complicated by his criminal history. Given the timing of the petition and these factual complications, the Court finds that Petitioner has not demonstrated why the Court should address the matter as an emergency on shortened time. Thus, the TRO request is untimely, and it is DENIED. See Local Rule 231(b). The Court refers the matter to the assigned magistrate judge for a determination on the merits. The Court sets the following briefing schedule, which may be modified by the magistrate judge as needed. Respondents SHALL file their responsive pleading within 30 days. Therein, Respondents are directed to address whether this case is distinguishable from the numerous cases in which this Court has granted habeas relief and SHALL provide the Court with copies of any portions of Petitioner's A-File or related supervision records Respondents rely upon. Petitioner may file a traverse no later than 15 days after Respondents file their brief. In the meantime, unless and until the Court orders otherwise, the Court ORDERS that Respondents shall not remove Petitioner from the United States nor transfer Petitioner out of this District. See F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 604 (1966) (noting the court's "express authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to protect its own jurisdiction"). Given the exigent circumstances, the Court finds that this order is warranted to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and any subsequent order and finds that Petitioner has satisfied the factors governing the issuance of such preliminary relief. No later than January 30, 2026, to the extent not already accomplished, Petitioner is directed: (1) to serve Respondents with a copy of the Petition, along with a copy of this Order, by e-mail (noting Petitioner's name and A-File number in the memo line) to all appropriate recipients including the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, with a copy to usacae.ecf2241-imm@usdoj.gov, and by overnight mail; and (2) promptly file proof of such service on the docket. Counsel for respondents shall promptly enter notices of appearance signed by District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on January 30, 2026. (Deputy Clerk IM) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

#12

Jan 30, 2026

ORDER VACATING 5 January 28, 2026 Briefing Schedule, signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on January 30, 2026. In light of the district judge's updated briefing schedule, (ECF No. 11), the Court HEREBY VACATES the January 28, 2026 briefing schedule (ECF No. 5). (Deputy Clerk OFR) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

Jan 30, 2026

Order on Motion for TRO

#13

Feb 19, 2026

NOTICE of RELATED CASE(S) 1:26-cv-01381-DAD-CKD by Sergio Albarran, Tonya Andrews, Pamela Bondi, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem. Attorney Williams, Jonathan added. (Williams, Jonathan) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#14

Feb 25, 2026

REPLY by Rafael Espinoza Mendoza re 13 Notice of Related Case(s). (Bhatnagar, Nikhil) (Entered: 02/25/2026)

#15

Feb 25, 2026

RESPONSE by Sergio Albarran, Tonya Andrews, Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem to 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, 11 Order on Motion for TRO,,,,,,,,,,,,. (Andrews, Anthony) (Entered: 02/25/2026)

#16

Mar 03, 2026

REPLY by Rafael Espinoza Mendoza re 15 Response. (Bhatnagar, Nikhil) (Entered: 03/03/2026)

#17

Mar 11, 2026

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS to Grant 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Direct Respondents to Provide Petitioner with a Bond Hearing Before an Immigration Judge signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 3/10/2026. Referred to Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Objections to F&R due within Fourteen (14) Days. (Deputy Clerk SSA) (Entered: 03/11/2026)

#18

Apr 01, 2026

OBJECTIONS to FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS 17 by Respondents Sergio Albarran, Tonya Andrews, Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Andrews, Anthony) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

#19

Apr 06, 2026

ORDER ADOPTING 17 Findings and Recommendations, GRANTING The Petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus, DIRECTING Respondents To Provide Petitioner With Bond Hearing Before Immigration Judge, And DIRECTING Clerk Of Court To Close Case, signed by District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 4/6/2026. CASE CLOSED. (Deputy Clerk CRM) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

#20

Apr 06, 2026

JUDGMENT dated *4/6/2026* pursuant to order. (Deputy Clerk CRM) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

#21

Apr 21, 2026

MOTION to Enforce Judgment by Rafael Espinoza Mendoza. (Deputy Clerk EF) (Entered: 04/21/2026)

#22

Apr 22, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Entry Only) The Court has reviewed the recently filed motion to enforce. (Doc. 21 .) In his motion, Petitioner challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the immigration judge's bond determination rather than the constitutionality of the process by which that determination was reached. That is not a question for this Court. In granting the writ of habeas corpus (Doc. 19, the Court ordered a process, not an outcome. Complaints about the conclusion the IJ reached must be presented through the normal immigration appeal process. Thus, that motion is DENIED signed by District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on April 22, 2026. (Deputy Clerk IM) (Entered: 04/22/2026)

Apr 22, 2026

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

#23

Jul 28, 2026

NOTICE of RELATED CASE(S) 1:26-cv-00702-JLT-EPG, 1:26-cv-05858-DJC-AC by Sergio Albarran, Tonya Andrews, Pamela Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Yu, Jonathan) (Entered: 07/28/2026)

#24

Jul 28, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Anthony Andrews for Sergio Albarran,Anthony Andrews for Tonya Andrews,Anthony Andrews for Pamela Bondi,Anthony Andrews for Todd M. Lyons,Anthony Andrews for Kristi Noem, attorney Jonathan Williams, GOVT terminated (Williams, Jonathan) (Entered: 07/28/2026)