District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-08796

#1

Jul 16, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed by RIGOBERTO LUCAS JUAN ESTEBAN. (Attachments: # 1 Cover Letter, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Certificate of Service, # 4 Exhibit) (Received via ADS) (vm) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#2

Jul 16, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Petitioner shall not be removed from the state of New Jersey or from the United States. This is an administrative stay, the purpose of which is to briefly freeze the status quo and preserve the Court's jurisdiction should it exist. See Zheng v. Bondi, 2025 WL 280542, at *1 (D.N.J. Sept. 26, 2025). The Respondents shall file a letter on or before July 17 at 2:00pm stating the legal and factual basis of the Petitioner's detention. In addition, a declaration from the United States Attorney's Office shall be filed on the schedule set out below. It shall indicate that the United States Attorney's Office has (i) received this Order and conveyed it to the appropriate personnel at ICE; and (ii) provided ICE with written legal advice on the subject of ICE's obligation to comply with this Order. A declaration from ICE shall also be filed. It shall indicate that ICE has (i) received this Order; and (ii) received written legal advice from the United States Attorney's Office on the subject of ICE's obligation to comply with this Order. Each declaration shall be filed on the public docket of the Court on or before 5:00pm on July 16. The first declaration must be executed by either the United States Attorney or by the Chief of the Civil Division. The second declaration must be executed by either the Newark ICE Field Office Director or by the Newark ICE Field Office Deputy Director. The declarations may be signed by hand or electronically. Finally, the United States Attorney's Office shall immediately file a letter on the Court's public docket if an Order of the Court is violated in connection with this case. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 7/16/2026. (ro, ) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#3

Jul 16, 2026

MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by RIGOBERTO LUCAS JUAN ESTEBAN. (vm) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#4

Jul 16, 2026

MOTION to Appoint Pro Bono by RIGOBERTO LUCAS JUAN ESTEBAN. (vm) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#5

Jul 16, 2026

MOTION for EMERGENCY RELEASE WITHOUT MONETARY BOND by RIGOBERTO LUCAS JUAN ESTEBAN. (vm) Modified on 7/16/2026 (ps). (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#6

Jul 16, 2026

DECLARATION of Acting Deputy Field Office Director Marlene Belluardo by WARDEN, DELANEY HALL DETENTION CENTER. (DOYNE, BROOKS) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

#7

Jul 16, 2026

DECLARATION of Civil Chief re 2 Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order,,,,,,, by WARDEN, DELANEY HALL DETENTION CENTER. (BASIAK, JOHN) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

Jul 16, 2026

Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order

#8

Jul 17, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by SHARI-ANN ALYCIA SASU on behalf of WARDEN, DELANEY HALL DETENTION CENTER (SASU, SHARI-ANN) (Entered: 07/17/2026)

#9

Jul 17, 2026

RESPONDENT'S RESPONSE to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ANSWER by WARDEN, DELANEY HALL DETENTION CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex, 1, I-213 (2026), # 2 Exhibit Ex. 2, I-200, # 3 Exhibit Ex. 3, I-862)(SASU, SHARI-ANN) (Entered: 07/17/2026)

Jul 20, 2026

Filing Fee Received

Jul 20, 2026

Filing fee: $ 5, receipt number TRE150176 (dmr3)

#10

Jul 21, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Petitioner has filed a motion for the appointment of pro bono counsel. See ECF 4 . The motion is granted. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 7/21/26. (ro, ) (Entered: 07/21/2026)

#11

Jul 21, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Respondents have indicated that the Petitioner is detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2). See ECF 9 . He is not, and for the reasons explained in cases such as Castillo v. Lyons, 2025 WL 2940990 (D.N.J. Oct. 10, 2025) and Buestan v. Chu, 2025 WL 2972252 (D.N.J. Oct. 21, 2025), the Petitioner is therefore detained in violation of the laws of the United States. That entitles the Petitioner to habeas relief. The appropriate habeas relief in this context is an immigration-court bond hearing. See Y.Z. v. Soto, 812 F. Supp. 3d 459, 462-63 (D.N.J. 2025). But the Petitioner does not pursue that. He instead seems to be only seeking "immediate release from ICE custody without requiring a monetary bond." See ECF 1 68. For this reason, the Court will not order an immigration-court bond hearing. If the Petitioner wishes to pursue additional forms of relief, such as an immigration-court bond hearing, he may file a short letter explaining that that is his desire. The letter shall be filed on or before August 3 at 5:00pm. On or before July 21 at 5:00pm, the Respondents shall supply a copy of this text order to the Petitioner. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 7/21/26. (ro, ) (Entered: 07/21/2026)

Jul 21, 2026

Order on Motion to Appoint Pro Bono

Jul 21, 2026

Text Order

#12

Jul 24, 2026

Letter from Respondents re 11 Text Order,,,,. (SASU, SHARI-ANN) (Entered: 07/24/2026)

#13

Jul 24, 2026

PETITIONER'S RESPONSE TO THE COURT'S JULY 21, 2026 TEXT ORDER from RIGOBERTO LUCAS JUAN ESTEBAN. (RECEIVED VIA ADS) (adc, ) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

#14

Jul 27, 2026

TEXT ORDER: In light of the submission at ECF 13, an immigration court bond hearing shall be conducted on or before July 28 at 5:00pm, unless the Respondents file a letter on or before July 28 at 11:00am indicating that the Petitioner has asked to adjourn the bond hearing. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 7/27/2026. (ps) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

Jul 27, 2026

Text Order

#15

Jul 30, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Respondents shall file a status update letter on or before July 31 at 5:00pm. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 7/30/2026. (wh) (Entered: 07/30/2026)

Jul 30, 2026

Text Order

#16

Aug 03, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Respondents' status update, see ECF 15, is overdue. It shall be promptly filed. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 8/3/26. (ro, ) (Entered: 08/03/2026)

#17

Aug 03, 2026

Letter from Respondents re 15 Text Order, 14 Text Order,. (SASU, SHARI-ANN) (Entered: 08/03/2026)

Aug 03, 2026

Text Order

#18

Aug 04, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The Respondents shall file another status update letter on or before August 7 at 5:00pm. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 8/4/26. (ro, ) (Entered: 08/04/2026)

Aug 04, 2026

Text Order

#19

Aug 06, 2026

Letter from RESPONDENTS re 18 Text Order. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex. 1, IJ Order)(SASU, SHARI-ANN) (Entered: 08/06/2026)

#20

Aug 06, 2026

NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENTS AND REQUEST FOR FURTHER RELIEF by RIGOBERTO LUCAS JUAN ESTEBAN. (RECEIVED VIA ADS) (adc, ) (Entered: 08/07/2026)

#21

Aug 07, 2026

Letter from Respondents re 18 Text Order, 20 Notice (Other). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex. 1, Bond Hearing Notice)(SASU, SHARI-ANN) (Entered: 08/07/2026)

#22

Aug 14, 2026

Letter from Respondents on Petitioner's Bond Hearing re 18 Text Order. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex. 1, Bond Hearing Order)(SASU, SHARI-ANN) (Entered: 08/14/2026)

#23

Aug 16, 2026

TEXT ORDER: A petition was filed, see ECF 1, a bond hearing was ordered, see ECF 14, and the Petitioner was ordered released from custody. See ECF 22 . Accordingly, it appears that the petition should be dismissed. Any party objecting to this course of action shall file a short letter on or before August 19 at 5:00pm. If no persuasive letter is filed before the deadline, the petition will be promptly dismissed.. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 8/16/26. (ro, ) (Entered: 08/16/2026)

Aug 16, 2026

Text Order

#24

Aug 21, 2026

TEXT ORDER: The petition at ECF 1 is dismissed, the injunction at ECF 2 is lifted, and the Clerk of Court is directed to close this case.. So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 8/21/26. (ro, ) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

Aug 21, 2026

Order of Dismissal