Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-08296

#1

Oct 09, 2026

2241 PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against Christopher Chestnut by Juan Garcia Vallarta. (Deputy Clerk SZ) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

#2

Oct 09, 2026

MOTION to PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS by Juan Garcia Vallarta. (Deputy Clerk SZ) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

#3

Oct 09, 2026

MOTION to APPOINT COUNSEL by Juan Garcia Vallarta. (Deputy Clerk SZ) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

#4

Oct 09, 2026

MOTION for TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by Juan Garcia Vallarta. (Deputy Clerk SZ) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

#5

Oct 13, 2026

ORDER AUTHORIZING IN FORMA PAUPERIS STATUS as to Juan Garcia Vallarta signed by District Judge Vince Chhabria on 10/13/2026. (Deputy Clerk SZ) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

#6

Oct 13, 2026

IMMIGRATION NEW CASE DOCUMENTS (Deputy Clerk SZ) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

#7

Oct 13, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Jonathan Yu, GOVT for Christopher Chestnut (Yu, Jonathan) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

#8

Oct 13, 2026

MINUTE ORDER signed by District Judge Vince Chhabria on 10/13/2026: The Court is in receipt of Petitioner's 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ("Petition") and 4 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order. The Court intends to rule directly on the Petition, with the understanding that the Court will also consider any arguments made and exhibits submitted in support of the TRO. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)(2) ("Before or after beginning the hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction, the court may advance the trial on the merits and consolidate it with the hearing."); 28 U.S.C. § 2243 ("The court shall summarily hear and determine the facts, and dispose of [a petitioner's habeas petition] as law and justice require."); Dzhabrailov v. Decker, No. 20-cv-03118-PMH, 2020 WL 2731966, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. May 26, 2020) (considering preliminary injunction and merits of habeas petition simultaneously). Respondents SHALL file an Answer to the 1 Habeas Petition within 5 court days of this order. The Answer MUST include the Petitioner's full Form I-213, any orders of release from detention, any Notices to Appear, any Notices of Revocation of Release, Removal Orders, and Petitioner's criminal record to the extent one exists and is relevant to the issues presented by the petition. If Petitioner has been provided an immigration bond hearing since his most recent detention, Respondents MUST also file the transcript or audio recording of the hearing. If in their Answer Respondents choose to move to dismiss the petition based on a procedural defect in the Petition, the Answer should also include a response to the merits of the Petition. Petitioner may file a reply within 9 court days of this order.The Court finds this case would benefit from the appointment of counsel. See 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). Within 7 calendar days from the date of this Order, the appointing authority for the Eastern District of California shall identify counsel and send counsel's contact information via email to julia_thomas@CAND.uscourts.gov, who shall update the docket to reflect counsel's appointment. If counsel is not a member of the Eastern District of California Criminal Justice Act ("CJA") Panel, the Court hereby authorizes the appointee to serve as CJA counsel for Petitioner for the duration of the proceedings in this Court pursuant to Local Rule 180(b)(1). If counsel is not admitted to practice before the Eastern District of California court, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 3005 and 3006A and this District's CJA Plan, General Order 671, § XV.C.1.g as applied here, the Court hereby authorizes said counsel's Pro Hac Vice admission to practice before this court for the duration of the proceedings, nunc pro tunc to the date the appointing authority first contacted counsel about this appointment. The Clerk of the Court SHALL SERVE a copy of this Order on the Federal Defender, Attention: Habeas Appointment. The Clerk shall also serve a copy of the 1 Petition upon the Federal Defender. Respondents are PROHIBITED from removing Petitioner from the Eastern District of California while the Petition is pending. (Text Only Entry) (Thomas, Julia) (Entered: 10/13/2026)

Oct 13, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 8 Minute Order served on Petitioner. (Thomas, Julia)

Oct 13, 2026

Minute Order AND Order on Motion to Appoint Counsel

Oct 13, 2026

Service by Mail

Oct 13, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 6 Immigration New Case Documents, 5 Order Authorizing IFP Status, Order on Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis served on Juan Garcia Vallarta. (Deputy Clerk SZ)

#9

Oct 15, 2026

MINUTE ORDER signed by District Judge Vince Chhabria on 10/15/2026: Pursuant to the Order appointing counsel dated 10/13/2026 (ECF No. 8 ), the appointing authority for the Eastern District of California has confirmed that attorney Simran Kaur seeks appointment nunc pro tunc to 10/15/2026 and notified the Court of Counsel's contact information. Attorney Simran Kaur is hereby appointed pro hac vice as CJA counsel for petitioner as permitted in General Order 582, Section X (C). The Clerk of Court shall update the docket to reflect Attorney Simran Kaur, The Law Office of Simran Kaur, 122 E 12th St., Tracy, CA 95376, 925-817-0209, info@kaurlawyer.com, as counsel for petitioner on an ad hoc basis in this matter. (TEXT ONLY ENTRY) (cc: Federal Defender Habeas Appointment) (Thomas, Julia) (Entered: 10/15/2026)

Oct 15, 2026

Minute Order AND ~Util - Add and Terminate Attorneys

#10

Oct 19, 2026

ANSWER to PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS by Christopher Chestnut. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4)(Yu, Jonathan) (Entered: 10/19/2026)

#11

Oct 26, 2026

MOTION for 7-DAY EXTENSION OF TIME to 11/02/2026 re 8 Minute Order,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Order on Motion to Appoint Counsel,,,,,,,,,,,,, by Juan Garcia Vallarta. (Kaur, Simranjit) (Entered: 10/26/2026)

#12

Oct 28, 2026

ORDER signed by District Judge Vince Chhabria on 10/28/2026 GRANTING 11 Stipulation for Extension of Time. (Thomas, Julia) (Entered: 10/28/2026)

#13

Nov 02, 2026

REPLY by Juan Garcia Vallarta re 10 Answer to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Declaration of Juan Garcia Vallarta, # 2 Declaration of Simranjit Kaur, # 3 Declaration of Caroline Soto)(Kaur, Simranjit) (Entered: 11/02/2026)

#14

Nov 05, 2026

ORDER signed by District Judge Vince Chhabria on 11/5/2026 GRANTING 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and ORDERING Respondents to IMMEDIATELY RELEASE Petitioner Juan Garcia Vallarta (A244-392-530) from their custody. Respondents shall not impose any additional restrictions on Petitioner, unless that is determined to be necessary at a future pre-deprivation and/or custody hearing. (CASE CLOSED) (cc California City Immigration Processing Center) (Thomas, Julia) (Entered: 11/05/2026)

#15

Nov 05, 2026

JUDGMENT dated *November 5, 2026* pursuant to order signed by District Judge Vince Chhabria on 11/5/2026 in favor of Petitioner against Respondents. (Thomas, Julia) (Entered: 11/05/2026)