District of New Jersey • 2:26-cv-10504

#1

Aug 18, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed by ABRAHAM GOYTIA CRUZ. (Attachments: # 1 Character References) (Received via ADS) (N/M)(vm) (Entered: 08/18/2026)

#2

Aug 18, 2026

ORDER. Respondents are hereby enjoined from transferring Petitioner from New Jersey pending further Order of the Court. Signed by Judge Julien Xavier Neals on 8/18/2026. (N/M) (vm) (Entered: 08/18/2026)

Aug 19, 2026

Filing fee: $ 5, receipt number TRE150619. (mlh)

Aug 19, 2026

Filing Fee Received

#3

Aug 21, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by BRIDGET ELLEN ZARRILLO on behalf of WARDEN (ZARRILLO, BRIDGET) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

#4

Aug 21, 2026

RESPONSE to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by WARDEN. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit EX 1- RAP SHEET)(ZARRILLO, BRIDGET) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

#5

Aug 24, 2026

TEXT ORDER: Before the Court is Petitioner Abraham Goytia Cruz's ("Petitioner") Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ("Petition") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging Petitioner's continued detention by immigration authorities without an individualized bond hearing. (ECF No. 1.) Petitioner, a native of Mexico who entered the United States in 1996, contends that Petitioner is unlawfully detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) and is entitled to release or a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). (See ECF No. 1.) Respondents filed a letter informing the Court that in 1997, Petitioner was charged with Taking by Means of Conveyance and Disorderly Conduct. (See ECF No. 4.) Respondents submit that Petitioner is detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2). (Id.) Based on this Court's statutory interpretation 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)(2), as Petitioner has resided in the country and was detained years later on the interior of the country. As such, Petitioner's continued detention under that statute is unlawful. Although Respondents may have been able to lawfully detain Petitioner under a different statute, they instead detained Petitioner under § 1225(b). 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 his 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)(2), which the Court has found inapplicable to him. 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 his release, to ensure full effectuation of this Court's judgment and to prevent circumvention of the relief granted. It is finally ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall CLOSE this matter. So Ordered by Judge Julien Xavier Neals on 08/24/2026. (ftm) (Entered: 08/24/2026)

Aug 24, 2026

***Civil Case Terminated. (wh)

Aug 24, 2026

Terminate Civil Case

Aug 24, 2026

Text Order

#6

Aug 26, 2026

Letter from Respondents informing the Court of Petitioner's release. (ZARRILLO, BRIDGET) (Entered: 08/26/2026)