Western District of Louisiana • 3:26-cv-03450

#1

Aug 28, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (2241), filed by Sophal Touch. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form, # 3 Attachment)(LBO) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 08/28/2026)

#2

Aug 28, 2026

Filing fee/payment: $ 5.00, receipt number 100016445 for 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (2241) (LBO) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 08/28/2026)

#3

Aug 28, 2026

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. District Judge Angel Kelley 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 Paul G. Levenson. (NMC) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 08/28/2026)

#4

Aug 28, 2026

District Judge Angel Kelley: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. Before the Court is Petitioner's Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus [Dkt. 1]. After reviewing the Petition, Petitioner is ORDERED to show cause as to why this Petition should not be transferred to the Western District of Louisiana on or before August 31, 2026.(CEH) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 08/28/2026)

#5

Aug 28, 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). (CEH) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 08/28/2026)

#6

Aug 28, 2026

Copy re 4 Order, mailed to Sophal Touch on 8/28/2026. (CEH) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 08/28/2026)

#7

Sep 03, 2026

Letter/request (non-motion) and Response from Sophal Touch. (CEH) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 09/03/2026)

#8

Sep 07, 2026

District Judge Angel Kelley: ORDER entered. EMERGENCY ORDER CONCERNING STAY OF TRANSFER OR REMOVAL. (JPM) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 09/07/2026)

#9

Sep 08, 2026

District Judge Angel Kelley: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. On September 7, 2026, the Court entered an Emergency Order Concerning Stay of Transfer or Removal [Dkt. 8]. It is hereby ORDERED that the order and all associated deadlines be VACATED. (MAL) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#10

Sep 08, 2026

Case transferred to to District of Western District of Louisiana;. Original file certified copy of transfer order and docket sheet sent to Clerk in that district. (CEH) [Transferred from Massachusetts on 9/8/2026.] (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#11

Sep 08, 2026

DISTRICT CASE transferred in from District of Massachusetts; Case Number 1:26-cv-13972. Original file copy of transfer order and docket sheet received (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#12

Sep 08, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance of Counsel by Vance Touch on behalf of Sophal Touch. (Filed in the District of Massachusetts after case was transferred to the Western District of Louisiana.) (crt,Kiper, C) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#13

Sep 08, 2026

NOTICE to Custodians and Enforcement Agents by Vance Touch on behalf of Sophal Touch. (Filed in the District of Massachusetts after case was transferred to the Western District of Louisiana.) (crt,Kiper, C) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#14

Sep 08, 2026

EMERGENCY MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order, MOTION for Immediate Stay of Removal by Vance Touch on behalf of Sophal Touch. (Motion Ripe Deadline set for 9/8/2026.) (Filed in the District of Massachusetts after case was transferred to the Western District of Louisiana.) (crt,Kiper, C) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#15

Sep 08, 2026

NOTICE of Standing Order 1.73 regarding the provisional appointment of the Federal Public Defender. (crt,Kiper, C) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#16

Sep 08, 2026

NOTICE of Standing Order 1.74 regarding service and scheduling in immigration habeas cases. (crt,Kiper, C) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#17

Sep 08, 2026

ELECTRONIC ORDER denying 14 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order; denying 14 Motion to Stay.In order to obtain a TRO, Petitioner must show a likelihood of success on the underlying merits of her case. See United States v. Abbott, 110 F.4th 700, 706-707 (5th Cir. 2024); Mesa Hills Specialty Hosp. v. Becerra, 730 F. Supp. 3d 342, 353 (W.D. Tex. 2024). Petitioner has failed to meet this burden as the motion reflects that Petitioner's imminent removal is pursuant to a final order of removal. Further, the Court lacks jurisdiction to review an action by the Attorney General to execute removal orders. See 8 U.S.C. 1252(g); Oliveira v. Patterson, No. 6:25-CV-01463, 2025 WL 3091705, at *1 (W.D. La. Oct. 9, 2025). Signed by Judge Jerry Edwards, Jr on 9/8/2026. (jud,Edwards, Jerry) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

#18

Sep 08, 2026

District Judge Angel Kelley: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered.On August 28, 2026, Petitioner Sophal Touch filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. [Dkt. 1]. Upon review of the Petition, the Court ordered Petitioner to show cause why the case should not be transferred to the Western District of Louisiana. [Dkt. 4]. On September 3, 2026, Petitioner's brother, Vance Touch, submitted a letter to the Court on Petitioner's behalf asking that the case not be transferred. [Dkt. 7]. As grounds, Vance Touch stated that Petitioner resides in Fall River, Massachusetts, and has lived there since 2001. [Dkt. 7].Here, Petitioner challenges his detention by the Department of Homeland Security. He is currently incarcerated at the Jackson Parish Correctional Center in Jonesboro, Louisiana, a facility located within the Western District of Louisiana. [Dkt. 1].Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, "District Courts are limited to granting habeas relief 'within their respective jurisdictions.'" Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 442 (2004) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a)). A petitioner must file his habeas petition in the district of confinement and name his immediate custodian as respondent. Id. at 442-447.Petitioner challenges his present physical confinement, and he does not contest that he was confined in the Western District of Louisiana when he filed the Petition. [See Dkt. 1]. Because Petitioner was not in custody within the District of Massachusetts at the time of filing, this Court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. Petitioner's residence in Massachusetts does not change that conclusion; jurisdiction turns on the place of confinement and the location of the immediate custodian, not on where the petitioner lives. See Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. at 442-447As a final note, where a district court lacks jurisdiction, it may, in the interest of justice, transfer the case to a court in which the action could have been brought. 28 U.S.C. § 1631. The Court finds that transfer is in the interest of justice here.Therefore, the Court hereby ORDERS this matter transferred to the Western District of Louisiana.(CEH) (Entered: 09/09/2026) (Filed in the District of Massachusetts after case was transferred to the Western District of Louisiana.)(crt,Kiper, C) (Entered: 09/09/2026)

Sep 08, 2026

CASE Assigned to Judge Jerry Edwards, Jr and Magistrate Judge David J Ayo. (crt,Kiper, C)

Sep 08, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Sep 08, 2026

Order

Sep 08, 2026

District Transfer Out (Form Included Only If Manual Attachment Exists)

Sep 08, 2026

Order on Motion for TRO AND Order on Motion to Stay

Sep 09, 2026

Order