Middle District of Florida • 2:26-cv-01981

Rosales Romero v. Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center

Completed

Case Information

Filed: June 12, 2026
Assigned to: Sheri Polster Chappell
Referred to: Kevin R. Huguelet
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)
Completed: July 01, 2026
Last Activity: July 23, 2026
Parties: View All Parties →

Docket Entries

#1
Jun 12, 2026
PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus - Federal filed by Jose Miguel Rosales Romero. (Attachments: # 1 Mailing Envelope)(LAW) (Entered: 06/18/2026)
Main Document: Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
#2
Jun 12, 2026
MOTION to Proceed In Forma Pauperis / Affidavit of Indigency by Jose Miguel Rosales Romero. (Attachments: # 1 Mailing Envelope)(LAW) Motions referred to Magistrate Judge Kevin R. Huguelet. (Entered: 06/18/2026)
Main Document: Proceed In Forma Pauperis
#3
Jun 18, 2026
ENDORSED ORDER granting 2 Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kevin R. Huguelet on 6/18/2026. (BRH) (Entered: 06/18/2026)
Jun 18, 2026
Order on Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
#4
Jun 22, 2026
ORDER to respond and show cause why the petition should not be granted. The Clerk is directed to serve the petition. The Petitioner has 3 days to reply to the response to petition. Response to petition due by 6/29/2026. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 6/22/2026. (TDC) (Entered: 06/22/2026)
Main Document: Order to Respond to Habeas Petition
#5
Jun 26, 2026
NOTICE of Appearance by Nicholas John Peter Meros on behalf of Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center (Meros, Nicholas) (Entered: 06/26/2026)
Main Document: Notice of appearance
#6
Jun 26, 2026
MOTION to Dismiss Petition for Writ Habeas Corpus by Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B)(Meros, Nicholas) (Entered: 06/26/2026)
Main Document: Dismiss
#7
Jun 26, 2026
ENDORSED ORDER denying Respondent Warden of Florida Soft Side South Detention Center's Motion to Dismiss Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Doc. 6). "The federal habeas statute straightforwardly provides that the proper respondent to a habeas petition is the person who has custody over the petitioner." Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 434 (2004) (cleaned up). While courts have recognized that immigration detainees in state-run facilities can bring habeas claims against certain federal officials, see, e.g., Masingene v. Martin, 424 F. Supp. 3d 1298, 1301 (S.D. Fla. 2020), the immediate custodian is also a proper respondent. As the immediate custodian of the petitioner, the Warden is a proper respondent to his habeas petition. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 6/26/2026. (SAP) Modified on 6/26/2026 (SAP). (Entered: 06/26/2026)
Jun 26, 2026
Order on Motion to Dismiss
#8
Jun 30, 2026
Response to habeas petition
Main Document: Response to habeas petition
#9
Jul 01, 2026
ENDORSED ORDER granting Jose Miguel Rosales Romero's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Doc. 1). The Government concedes the petitioner is entitled to a bond hearing based upon the Eleventh Circuit's opinion in Hernandez Alvarez v. Warden, 175 F.4th 1258 (11th Cir. 2026). The Court orders the Respondents to bring Petitioner before an immigration judge for an individualized bond hearing within seven days of the date of this Order. The hearing must include--and the resulting order must reflect--consideration of the factors set forth in In re Guerra, 24 I. & N. Dec. 37 (BIA 2006), and the government must bear the burden of proof. If Respondents are unable to ensure Petitioner receives a bond hearing that complies with this Order within seven days, they must release him under reasonable conditions of supervision. Because the government recently transferred Petitioner to a different facility and does not forward legal mail to detainees after transferring them, the government must certify it has served this Order on him within three days. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate any pending motions and deadlines, enter judgment, and close the case. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 7/1/2026. (NMC) (Entered: 07/01/2026)
#10
Jul 01, 2026
Judgment
Main Document: Judgment
Jul 01, 2026
Opinion and order AND Order Dismissing Case
#13
Jul 23, 2026
Notice (Other)
Main Document: Notice (Other)

Parties

Rosales Romero
Party
Warden, Florida Soft Side South Detention Center
Party