Northern District of Ohio • 3:26-cv-01293

#1

Jun 03, 2026

Petition under 28 USC 2241 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a person in federal ICE custody. Filing fee paid $ 5, receipt number AOHNDC-13708437.. Filed by Emmanuel Blankson Marfo. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A, Automated Case status showing grant of Withholding of Removal) (Nemecek, Julia) (Entered: 06/03/2026)

Jun 04, 2026

Random Assignment of Magistrate Judge pursuant to Local Rule 3.1. In the event of a referral, case will be assigned to Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg. (S,DM)

Jun 04, 2026

Judge Benita Y. Pearson assigned to case. (S,DM)

#2

Jun 14, 2026

Temporary Restraining Order

#3

Jun 15, 2026

Attorney Appearance by Ruchi Vikram Asher and James R. Bennett II filed by on behalf of Acting Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, Detroit Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney General. (Asher, Ruchi) (Entered: 06/15/2026)

#4

Jun 16, 2026

Order

#5

Jun 16, 2026

Brief in Opposition to Petitioner's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order filed by Acting Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, Detroit Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney General. Related document(s) 2 . (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A-Order of Immigration Judge, # 2 Exhibit B-Declaration of Vu Cam, # 3 Exhibit C-Memorandum of guidance regarding third country removals) (Bennett, James) (Entered: 06/16/2026)

#6

Jun 17, 2026

Order

Jun 17, 2026

Minutes of proceedings [non-document] before Judge Benita Y. Pearson. Telephonic hearing on Petitioner's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (ECF No. 2 ) held on 6/17/2026. Present were Attorney Julia C. Nemecek as counsel for Petitioner Emmmanuel Blankson Marfo; and Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Bennett II as counsel for Respondents Kevin Raycraft, Markwayne Mullin, and Todd Blanche. Counsel made arguments regarding, but not limited to, the Court's jurisdiction, the relevance of the Department of Homeland Security's 3/30/2025 Memorandum Guidance Regarding Third Country Removals, Petitioner's detention location and access to counsel, and additional persuasive authority, e.g., Agyemang v. Warden of Clinton Cnty. Corr. Facility, No. 3,26-CV-00688, 2026 WL 1558255 (M.D. Pa. 6/2/2026). After reviewing the Parties' briefs and considering their oral arguments, the Court granted Petitioner's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order ( 2 ) finding that Petitioner will suffer irreparable harm, among other things, if injunctive relief is not granted. Until further Order of the Court, (1) Petitioner shall not be deported to Sierra Leone and (2) shall be returned to the Northern District of Ohio. A hearing on Preliminary Injunction will be held on 7/1/2026 at 3:00 p.m. Separate Orders further explaining the granting of injunctive relief and providing instructions for subsequent briefing for the hearing on Preliminary Injunction shall issue. (Court Reporter: Lori Callahan); Time: 53 Minutes. (JLG)

#7

Jun 22, 2026

Brief in Opposition to Preliminary Injunction filed by Acting Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, Detroit Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit D-Record of sworn statement in proceedings, # 2 Exhibit E-DHS Notice to Appear) (Bennett, James) (Entered: 06/22/2026)

#8

Jun 24, 2026

Expedited Non-Appeal Transcript Order Form for proceedings held on 6/17/26 before Judge Benita Y. Pearson, Court Reporter: Lori Callahan. filed by Emmanuel Blankson Marfo. (Nemecek, Julia) (Entered: 06/24/2026)

#9

Jun 25, 2026

Transcript of Temporary Restraining Order (via Telephone) held on 6/17/26 before Judge Benita Y. Pearson. To obtain a bound copy of this transcript please contact court reporter Lori Callahan at 330-252-6022. [41 pages] 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. Parties requesting that privacy information be redacted must file a notice of intent to redact with the court by 7/2/2026. Redaction Request due 7/16/2026. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 7/27/2026. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 9/23/2026. Related document(s) 8 . (C,L) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

#10

Jun 25, 2026

Brief in support of Preliminary Injuction filed by Emmanuel Blankson Marfo. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit DOS Human Rights Report 2023) (Nemecek, Julia) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

#11

Jun 26, 2026

Notice of Release and Suggestion of Mootness filed by Acting Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, Detroit Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit F - Release Notification and Order of Supervision)(Bennett, James) (Entered: 06/26/2026)

#12

Jun 26, 2026

Brief in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss filed by Emmanuel Blankson Marfo. Related document(s) 11 . (Nemecek, Julia) (Entered: 06/26/2026)

#13

Jun 29, 2026

Reply Brief filed by Acting Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, Detroit Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney General. Related document(s) 7, 6 . (Bennett, James) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

#14

Jun 29, 2026

Order

#15

Jun 29, 2026

Notice of Joint Status Report filed by Acting Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, Detroit Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney General. Related document(s) 14 .(Bennett, James) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

Jul 01, 2026

Minutes of proceedings [non-document] before Judge Benita Y. Pearson. Hearing conducted on 7/1/2026 to determine whether the Temporary Restraining Order issued on 6/17/2026 ( 6 ) should convert to a Preliminary Injunction under Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a). Present were Attorney Julia C. Nemecek as counsel for Petitioner Emmanuel Blankson Marfo; and Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Bennett II as counsel for Respondents Kevin Raycraft, Markwayne Mullin, and Todd Blanche. Attorneys Nemecek and Bennett orally presented their legal and factual contentions regarding Petitioner's statutory and constitutional challenges to the circumstances surrounding his forthcoming removal from the United States. For the reasons stated on the record, the Court determined that: (1) Petitioner has established a likelihood of success on the merits; (2) Petitioner would be irreparably injured without a preliminary injunction; (3) issuing a preliminary injunction would not substantially harm Respondents; and (4) a preliminary injunction is in the public interest. Therefore, the Court ordered that the Temporary Restraining Order ( 6 ) will convert-in relevant part-to a Preliminary Injunction effective 7/1/2026. Until the underlying 28 U.S.C. § 2241 Petition is resolved, Respondents are temporarily enjoined from: (1) removing Petitioner from the United States to any other nation, including Sierra Leone; and (2) removing Petitioner from Ohio. A separate Order expanding on this reasoning ruling shall issue. (Court Reporter: Mary Uphold; Time: 58 Minutes. (JLG)

#16

Jul 02, 2026

Expedited Non-Appeal Transcript Order Form for proceedings held on 7/1/2026 before Judge Benita Y. Pearson, Court Reporter: Mary Uphold. Requested completion date: 7/2/2026 filed by Emmanuel Blankson Marfo. (Nemecek, Julia) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

#17

Jul 02, 2026

Transcript of Preliminary Injunction Hearing held on 7/1/26 before Judge Benita Y. Pearson. To obtain a bound copy of this transcript please contact court reporter Mary L. Uphold at (330) 884-7424 or Mary_Uphold@ohnd.uscourts.gov. [39 pages] 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. Parties requesting that privacy information be redacted must file a notice of intent to redact with the court by 7/9/2026. Redaction Request due 7/23/2026. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 8/3/2026. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 9/30/2026. Related document(s) 16 . (U,ML) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

#18

Jul 13, 2026

Memorandum Opinion and Order