Eastern District of Virginia • 1:26-cv-00712

#1

Mar 13, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number AVAEDC-10848401.), filed by Mario Ernaldo Rivera Melgar. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1. Asylum Interview Notice, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Haynes, Leah) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

Mar 13, 2026

Initial Case Assignment to District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles and Magistrate Judge Lindsey R. Vaala. (swil)

#2

Mar 16, 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 March 20, 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 Andrade Portillo v. Perry, et al, 1:25-cv-1646 (E.D. Va.), or an Opposition to the Petition discussing the material differences between Portillo and this Petition. (see order for details) Signed by District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles on 03/16/2026. (dvanm) (Entered: 03/16/2026)

#3

Mar 16, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Sean Douglas Jansen on behalf of Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Paul Perry (Jansen, Sean) (Entered: 03/16/2026)

#4

Mar 17, 2026

Response to 2 ORDER, filed by Pamela Bondi, Robert Guadian, Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, Paul Perry. (Jansen, Sean) (Entered: 03/17/2026)

#5

Apr 24, 2026

STATUS UPDATE by Mario Ernaldo Rivera Melgar. (Haynes, Leah) Modified on 4/27/2026 (triv). (Entered: 04/24/2026)

#6

Apr 30, 2026

ORDERED that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Dkt. 1) is GRANTED. ORDERED that Petitioner be immediately released from custody, with all his personal property, pending his bond hearing before an immigration judge. Petitioner must live at a fixed address and provide that address to the Court within twenty-four (24) hours of the issuance of this Order. Petitioner must also appear at the bond hearing once the government notifies him of its date, time, and location. ORDERED that Respondents must provide Petitioner with a standard bond hearing pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § l 226(a). ORDERED that Respondents are ENJOINED from denying Petitioner release on bond on the basis that he is subject to mandatory detention pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(6)(2. ORDERED that Respondents-along with their officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, successors, and assigns, and all persons acting in concert with them-be and are ENJOINED from rearresting Petitioner unless he has committed a new violation of any federal, state, or local law, or has failed to attend any properly noticed immigration or court hearing, or pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1231 (a)(2). Signed by District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles on 4/30/2026. (kgall) (Entered: 04/30/2026)

#7

Apr 30, 2026

CLERK'S JUDGMENT is hereby entered in accordance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 58, JUDGMENT is hereby entered in favor of the petitioner Mario Ernaldo Rivera Melgar and against the respondents Kristi Noem, Todd Lyons, Robert Guadian, Pamela Bondi and Paul Perry. Entered by Clerk on 4/30/2026. (kgall) (Entered: 04/30/2026)

#8

May 01, 2026

MOTION to Seal and NOTICE of Petitioner's Fixed Address by Mario Ernaldo Rivera Melgar. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Haynes, Leah) (Entered: 05/01/2026)

#9

May 01, 2026

Memorandum in Support in re 8 MOTION to Seal and NOTICE of Petitioner's Fixed Address filed by Mario Ernaldo Rivera Melgar. (Haynes, Leah) Modified on 5/1/2026 (triv). (Entered: 05/01/2026)

#10

May 01, 2026

Notice of Sealing Motion by Mario Ernaldo Rivera Melgar in re 8 MOTION to Seal and NOTICE of Petitioner's Fixed Address (Haynes, Leah) Modified on 5/1/2026 (triv). (Entered: 05/01/2026)

#11

May 01, 2026

NOTICE of Waiver of Hearing in re 8 MOTION to Seal and NOTICE of Petitioner's Fixed Address by Mario Ernaldo Rivera Melgar (Haynes, Leah) Modified on 5/1/2026 (triv). (Entered: 05/01/2026)

#12

May 01, 2026

Sealed Document in re 8 MOTION to Seal and NOTICE of Petitioner's Fixed Address. (Haynes, Leah) Modified on 5/1/2026 (triv). (Entered: 05/01/2026)