District of Massachusetts • 1:26-cv-13014

Pereira Pinto Junior v. Wesling

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Case Information

Filed: June 30, 2026
Assigned to: Denise Jefferson Casper
Referred to:
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federa
Active
Last Activity: July 31, 2026
Parties: View All Parties →

Docket Entries

#1
Jun 30, 2026
Emergency PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (2241) Filing fee: $ 5, receipt number AMADC-11855746 Fee status: Filing Fee paid., filed by Evaldo Pereira Pinto Junior. (Attachments: # 1 Category Form, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Cerretani, Gabriela) (Entered: 06/30/2026)
Main Document: Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - 2241
#2
Jun 30, 2026
ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Chief District Judge Denise J. Casper assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. (FGD) (Entered: 06/30/2026)
#3
Jun 30, 2026
General Order 19-02, dated June 1, 2019 regarding Public Access to Immigration Cases Restricted by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c). (EZG) (Entered: 06/30/2026)
Main Document: General Order 19-02
Jun 30, 2026
Notice of Case Assignment
#4
Jul 01, 2026
Chief District Judge Denise J. Casper: ORDER entered. ORDER CONCERNING SERVICE OF PETITION AND STAY OF TRANSFER OR REMOVAL. (EZG) (Entered: 07/01/2026)
Main Document: Service Order-2241 Petition
#5
Jul 08, 2026
Notice of Appearance
Main Document: Notice of Appearance
#6
Jul 14, 2026
Answer/Response to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - 2241
Main Document: Answer/Response to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - 2241
#7
Jul 16, 2026
Chief District Judge Denise J. Casper: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (2241), filed by Evaldo Pereira Pinto Junior. Having reviewed the petition for habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (the "Petition") filed by Petitioner Evaldo Pereira Pinto Junior ("Petitioner"), D. 1, and Respondents' response to same, D. 6, the Court ALLOWS the Petition insofar as it sought a bond hearing/individualized custody redetermination before an immigration judge under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), at which the government bears the burden of proving Petitioner poses a danger to the community or flight risk, see Hernandez-Lara v. Lyons, 10 F.4th 19, 41 (1st Cir. 2021), which the Court ORDERS within seven (7) days of this Order. Respondents are also ENJOINED from denying Petitioner bond on the basis that he is detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2). The Court further ORDERS Respondents to file a status report within ten (10) days of this Order stating whether Petitioner has been granted bond, and, if his request for bond was denied, the reasons for that denial.Factual Background. Petitioner is a noncitizen from Brazil currently detained in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") in Burlington, Massachusetts. D. 1 ¶¶ 1, 6, 14, 19. Petitioner entered the United States without inspection several years ago and, following an encounter with the Department of Homeland Security, was released from immigration custody on conditions. Id. ¶¶ 2, 15-16, 35-36. On June 30, 2026, during a scheduled check-in with ICE, Petitioner was taken into custody. Id. ¶¶ 2, 17-18.Petitioner alleges that his detention is not authorized under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b), and that his custody is properly governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). Id. ¶¶ 3, 22. Petitioner contends that his detention without a bond hearing is, therefore, unlawful, including because it violates his rights under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, id. ¶¶ 23-31, and is contrary to statute, id. ¶¶ 32-38. Discussion. The Petition challenges Petitioner's detention in this district and seeks relief from same. Id. at 7-8. Accordingly, this Court has jurisdiction over the Petition as it concerns relief that Petitioner seeks challenging his continued detention. Kong v. United States, 62 F.4th 608, 614 (1st Cir. 2023) (noting that "we have held that district courts retain jurisdiction over challenges to the legality of detention in the immigration context").Consistent with this Court's prior rulings, including and not limited to Da Silva v. Bondi, No. 25-cv-12672, 2025 WL 2969163, at *2 (D. Mass. Oct. 21, 2025), and Dias de Carvalho v. Hyde, 25-cv-12677-DJC (D. Mass. Nov. 4, 2025), D. 14, the Court agrees with Petitioner that his custody is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) (which allows for discretionary determinations of custody before an immigration judge) and not 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2) (which provides for mandatory detention for "applicants for admission"), as Respondents contend, see D. 6 at 1 n.2; see also Jennings v. Rodriguez, 583 U.S. 281, 289 (2018) (discussing the distinction). Although Respondents "note that it does not appear that Petitioner disclosed his prior criminal history," D. 6 at 1 n.2, they do not suggest that any such history affects the Court's analysis of the Petition, but instead submit that this Court's decision in Dias de Carvalho is likely dispositive here, see id. at 1. Thus, the Court concludes that Petitioner is entitled to a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). See Barbosa da Cunha v. Freden, 175 F.4th 61, 71 (2d Cir. 2026) (affirming that petitioner's detention "is governed by Section 1226 and that he is entitled to a bond hearing . . . consistent with the decisions of . . . over ninety percent of district court judges"). Accordingly, the Court ALLOWS the Petition, D. 1, insofar as it sought a bond hearing/individualized custody redetermination under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), at which the government bears the burden of proving Petitioner poses a danger to the community or flight risk, see Hernandez-Lara, 10 F.4th at 41, which the Court ORDERS within seven (7) days of this Order. Respondents are also ENJOINED from denying Petitioner bond on the basis that he is detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2). The Court further ORDERS Respondents to file a status report within ten (10) days of this Order stating whether Petitioner has been granted bond, and, if his request for bond was denied, the reasons for that denial. (SEC) (Entered: 07/16/2026)
Jul 16, 2026
Order
#8
Jul 27, 2026
Status Report
Main Document: Status Report
#10
Jul 31, 2026
Order Dismissing Case
Main Document: Order Dismissing Case
Jul 31, 2026
Order