Eastern District of Virginia • 1:26-cv-00253

#1

Jan 27, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number AVAEDC-10739444.), filed by Oscar Samuel Chavarria Mejia. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Taylor Diaz, Madeline) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

#2

Jan 27, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Tanzania Jaysura on behalf of Pam Bondi, Jeff Crawford, Russell Hott, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem (Jaysura, Tanzania) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

Jan 27, 2026

Initial Case Assignment to District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema and Magistrate Judge Lindsey R. Vaala. (Sbro, )

#3

Jan 28, 2026

ORDERED that petitioner IS NOT to be removed or transferred from this district for any reason without this Court's permission; and it is further ORDERED that on or before 5:00 PM on Monday, February 2,2026, 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 (see Order for further details). Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 1/28/2026. (Sbro, ) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#4

Jan 29, 2026

Opposition to Dkt. 1 filed by Pam Bondi, Russell Hott, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Jaysura, Tanzania) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

#5

Jan 29, 2026

ORDERED that Mejia's Petition, [Dkt. No. 1], is GRANTED, and it is hereby ORDERED that Mejia be promptly released from custody, with all his personal property, pending his bond hearing before an Immigration Judge. Mejia must live at a fixed address which he must provide to the federal respondents'; and it is further ORDERED that respondents provide Mejia 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; and it is further ORDERED that respondents be and are ENJOINED from denying bond to Mejia on the basis that he is detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2); and it is further ORDERED that, if Mejia is granted bond, respondents be and are ENJOINED from invoking the automatic stay provision at 8 C.F.R. § 1003.19(i)(2); and it is further ORDERED that respondents file a status report with this Court within 3 days of the bond hearing, stating whether Mejia has been granted bond, and, if his request for bond was denied, the reasons for that denial. Simply stating that petitioner's request for bond was denied because he was deemed a "flight risk" or a "danger to the community," without more, is insufficient. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 1/29/2026. (swil) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

#6

Jan 29, 2026

CLERK'S JUDGMENT is hereby entered in accordance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 58 in favor of the Petitioner Oscar Samuel Chavarria Mejia and against the Respondents Jeff Crawford, Russell Hott, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi. Entered by Clerk on 1/29/2026. (swil) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

#7

Feb 11, 2026

Status Report filed by Oscar Samuel Chavarria Mejia. (Taylor Diaz, Madeline) Modified text on 2/13/2026 (jlan) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

#8

Feb 12, 2026

ORDERED that the federal respondents respond to petitioner's pleading by February 19, 2026. That response must include identifying how long the adjudicator has been an Immigration Judge. Any reply to that pleading is due on February 26, 2026. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 2/12/2026. (Sbro, ) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

#9

Feb 13, 2026

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

#10

Feb 19, 2026

MOTION to File DVD Exhibit by Pam Bondi, Russell Hott, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Jaysura, Tanzania) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#11

Feb 19, 2026

Opposition to Dkt 7 filed by Pam Bondi, Jeff Crawford, Russell Hott, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Jaysura, Tanzania) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#12

Feb 19, 2026

MOTION to Amend/Correct 11 Opposition Amend Respondents' Exhibit A Placeholder by Pam Bondi, Russell Hott, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Jaysura, Tanzania) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

#13

Feb 20, 2026

ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED in re 12 Motion to Amend/Correct. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 2/20/2026. (swil) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#14

Feb 20, 2026

ORDERED that the federal respondents' Motion, [Dkt. No. 10], is GRANTED. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 02/20/2026. See Order for further details. (triv) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

#15

Mar 18, 2026

ORDERED that petitioner file a reply to the federal respondents' Response in Opposition to Petitioner's Status Report by close of business on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The reply should clarify whether relief is being sought from the Court, address the federal respondents' arguments, and include the documentary evidence submitted by petitioner in support of his February 10, 2026 bond hearing. Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 3/18/2026. (kgall) (Entered: 03/18/2026)

#16

Mar 23, 2026

Response to Respondents' Response in Opposition of Petitioner's Status Report filed by Oscar Samuel Chavarria Mejia. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C)(Taylor Diaz, Madeline) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

#17

Mar 23, 2026

MOTION to Enforce by Oscar Samuel Chavarria Mejia. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Taylor Diaz, Madeline) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

#18

Mar 23, 2026

Memorandum in Support in re 17 MOTION to Enforce filed by Oscar Samuel Chavarria Mejia. (Taylor Diaz, Madeline) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

#19

Mar 24, 2026

Waiver of Oral Argument on Motion to Enforce by Oscar Samuel Chavarria Mejia (Taylor Diaz, Madeline) (Entered: 03/24/2026)

Mar 24, 2026

Notice of Correction in re 17 MOTION to Enforce. The filing user is notified to file a Notice of Hearing Date or a Waiver of Oral Argument. (triv)

#20

Mar 25, 2026

MEMORANDUM OPINION in re petitioner's Motion to Enforce. Order to be issued. (see memo for details) Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 3/25/2026. (dvanm)

#21

Mar 25, 2026

ORDER granting 17 Motion to Enforce; and it is hereby ORDERED that Chavarria Mejia be promptly released from custody, with all his personal property, in order to appear at a bond hearing before an Immigration Judge. Chavarria Mejia must live at a fixed address which he must provide to the federal respondents; and it is further ORDERED that by April 1, 2026, the federal respondents provide Chavarria Mejia with an individualized, constitutionally compliant bond hearing pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) before a different Immigration Judge. (see order for details) Signed by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on 3/25/2026. (dvanm, ) (Entered: 03/25/2026)

#22

Apr 02, 2026

STATUS REPORT by Pam Bondi, Russell Hott, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem. (Schmidt, Robert) (Entered: 04/02/2026)