District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-09667

CORDOVA MANZANO v. BLANCHE

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Case Information

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

Docket Entries

#1
Jul 30, 2026
First PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus and COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ( Filing fee $ 5 receipt number ANJDC-17736169.), filed by EDITA FABIOLA CORDOVA MANZANO. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit)(MIRON, ALEXANDRA) (Entered: 07/30/2026)
Main Document: Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
#2
Jul 31, 2026
TEXT ORDER. Respondents are hereby enjoined from transferring Petitioner from New Jersey pending further Order of the Court. So Ordered by Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb on 7/31/26. (jbb) (Entered: 07/31/2026)
#3
Jul 31, 2026
TEXT ORDER: Before the Court is Petitioner Edita Fabiola Cordova Manzano's ("Petitioner") Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ("Petition") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging her continued detention by immigration authorities without an individualized bond hearing (ECF No. 1). Petitioner, a native of Ecuador, who entered the United States in 2022, contends she is unlawfully detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b). (See generally ECF No.1.) Based on this Court's statutory interpretation in Caiza Guevara v. Tsoukaris, No. 26-967 (JXN) and in Fuentes Velasquez v. Noem, No. 25-16797, 2025 WL 3653657 (D.N.J. Dec. 17, 2025), the Court finds the facts asserted in the Petition establish that Petitioner cannot be mandatorily detained under the plain text of § 1225(b)(1) or (b)(2), as she entered the country years ago and has been detained in the interior of the country. As such, her continued detention under that statute is unlawful. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that, subject to the following, Petitioner's Petition (ECF No. 1) is GRANTED and Respondents shall RELEASE Petitioner within twenty-four (24) hours of the entry of this Text Order, under the same conditions, if any, that existed prior to her detention. It is further ORDERED that Respondents shall return to Petitioner all personal property belonging to Petitioner - including but not limited to any driver's license, passport, immigration documents, currency, or cellphone - that was seized at the time of detention. It is further ORDERED that Respondents are permanently enjoined from detaining Petitioner under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(1) or (b)(2), which the Court has found inapplicable to her. It is further ORDERED that Respondents shall not arrest, detain, or otherwise take Petitioner into custody under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) for a period of 14 days following her release, to ensure full effectuation of this Court's judgment and to prevent circumvention of the relief granted. It is finally ORDERED that if Respondents contend that this matter is factually distinguishable from Caiza Guevara and Fuentes Velasquez, or if Petitioner has an undisclosed criminal history, they shall file an expedited answer to the Petition within three (3) days of the date of this Text Order, and Petitioner may file a reply within three (3) days of receipt of the expedited answer. So Ordered by Judge Julien Xavier Neals on 07/31/2026. (ftm) (Entered: 07/31/2026)
Jul 31, 2026
Emergent Immigration Habeas Non-transfer Order
Jul 31, 2026
Text Order
Jul 31, 2026
Judge Julien Xavier Neals added. (jbb)
Jul 31, 2026
Add and Terminate Judges

Parties

BLANCHE
Party
CORDOVA MANZANO
Party