Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-08509

#1

Oct 16, 2026

PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against Christopher Chestnut by Thazeuls Thomas Espina-Pernia. (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/20/2026)

#2

Oct 16, 2026

MOTION to PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS by Thazeuls Thomas Espina-Pernia. (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/20/2026)

#3

Oct 16, 2026

MOTION for TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by Thazeuls Thomas Espina-Pernia. (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/20/2026)

#4

Oct 16, 2026

MOTION to APPOINT COUNSEL by Thazeuls Thomas Espina-Pernia. (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/20/2026)

#5

Oct 20, 2026

IMMIGRATION NEW CASE DOCUMENTS (Attachments: # 1 Litigant Letter) (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/20/2026)

#6

Oct 20, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Only Entry) signed by District Judge Dale A. Drozd on 10/20/2026: Pending the issuance of the court's order resolving the pending 3 motion for temporary restraining order, the court ORDERS that respondents shall not take any action to remove petitioner from the United States or to move petitioner out of the Eastern District of California. See F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 604 (1966) (acknowledging the court's express authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to protect its own jurisdiction). Given the exigent circumstances present, the court finds that this order is warranted to maintain the status quo pending its forthcoming order resolving petitioner's pending 3 motion for temporary restraining order. Further, the court has conducted a preliminary review of the pending motion and petition for writ of habeas corpus and observes that this case may involve core issues that the undersigned has previously addressed in this context. Accordingly, the parties are advised that if the court concludes that petitioner is entitled to the relief that is requested in the pending motion, then the court will also rule on the merits of the underlying petition. 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."); Dzhabrailov v. Decker, No. 20-cv-03118-PMH, 2020 WL 2731966, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. May 26, 2020) (considering the merits of the habeas petition and motion for preliminary injunction simultaneously). Counsel for respondents shall promptly enter Notices of Appearance if they have not already done so. Respondents shall file a written opposition to the pending 3 motion for temporary restraining order by 5:00 PM on Friday, 10/23/2026. In that opposition, respondents shall substantively address whether any provision of law or fact in this case would distinguish it from this court's decisions in Zurita Navarro v. Warden, Cent. Valley Annex Det. Facility, No. 1:26-cv-05661-DAD-SCR (HC), 2026 WL 2294963 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 10, 2026); Ayala Cajina v. Wofford, No. 1:25-cv-01566-DAD-AC (HC), 2025 WL 3251083 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 21, 2025); Perez v. Albarran, No. 1:25-cv-01540-DAD-CSK (HC), 2025 WL 3187578 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 14, 2025); Chavarria v. Chestnut, No. 1:25-cv-01755-DAD-AC, 2025 WL 3533606 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 9, 2025); Yang v. Kaiser, No. 2:25-cv-02205-DAD-AC (HC), 2025 WL 2791778 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 20, 2025); Quichimbo-Jimenez v. Warden, Cal. City Corr. Ctr., 2:26-cv-00739-DAD-EFB (HC), 2026 WL 679378 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 10, 2026); Cardenas v. Chestnut, et al., No. 1:26-cv-02073-DAD-SCR (HC), 2026 WL 785871 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 20, 2026); J.P.C. v. Chestnut, 1:26-cv-02108-DAD-JDP, 2026 WL 788129 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 20, 2026), and other similar cases previously decided by this court, or otherwise indicate that the matter is not substantively distinguishable. The court will construe failure to distinguish the above cited cases as a concession that the cases are not substantively distinguishable. If respondents oppose this court ruling on the underlying petition, then respondents are DIRECTED to indicate so and provide substantive reasons in support thereof in their opposition. (Deputy Clerk PAB) (Entered: 10/20/2026)

#7

Oct 20, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Edward Oh, GOVT for Christopher Chestnut (Oh, Edward) (Entered: 10/20/2026)

Oct 20, 2026

Minute Order

Oct 20, 2026

Service by Mail

Oct 20, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 6 Minute Order served on Thazeuls Thomas Espina-Pernia. (Deputy Clerk PAB)

Oct 20, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 5 Immigration New Case Documents served on Thazeuls Thomas Espina-Pernia. (Deputy Clerk DAR)

#9

Oct 27, 2026

ORDER signed by District Judge Dale A. Drozd on 10/27/2026 GRANTING petitioner's 1 petition for writ of habeas corpus, GRANTING petitioner's 2 motion to proceed ifp, and DENYING petitioner's 3 motion for temporar y restraining order and 4 motion for appointment of counsel as moot. Respondent is ORDERED to IMMEDIATELY RELEASE petitioner Thazeuls Thomas Espina-Pernia, A-File No. 246-040-167, from respondent's custody on the same conditions he was subject to prior to his re-detention on or about 9/16/2026. Respondent is ENJOINED AND RESTRAINED from re-detaining petitioner for any purpose, absent exigent circumstances, without providing petitioner notice and a pre-deprivation bond hear ing before an immigration judge at which hearing the government shall bear the burden of justifying petitioner's detention by clear and convincing evidence. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the California City Detention Facility, enter judgment in favor of petitioner, and close this case. CASE CLOSED. (cc: California City) (Deputy Clerk KLY)

#10

Oct 27, 2026

Judgment

Oct 27, 2026

Service by Mail