Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-08687

#1

Oct 22, 2026

PETITION for WRIT of HABEAS CORPUS against Todd Blanche by Joel Mitchell Equiluz Vilca. (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/23/2026)

#2

Oct 22, 2026

MOTION for TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by Joel Mitchell Equiluz Vilca. (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/23/2026)

#3

Oct 23, 2026

IMMIGRATION NEW CASE DOCUMENTS (Attachments: # 1 Litigant Letter) (Deputy Clerk DAR) (Entered: 10/23/2026)

Oct 23, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 3 Immigration New Case Documents served on Joel Mitchell Equiluz Vilca. (Deputy Clerk DAR)

Oct 23, 2026

Service by Mail

#4

Oct 26, 2026

MINUTE ORDER issued by the Courtroom Deputy for District Judge Dena M. Coggins on 10/26/2026: The court has reviewed Petitioner's 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order. From these filings, it is unclear whether Petitioner has previously been released from immigration custody, or whether the challenged detention is Petitioner's first contact with immigration authorities. Noncitizens present without admission who are apprehended in the interior of the United States are subject to discretionary detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226, not mandatory detention under § 1225(b)(2)(A). See Rodriguez Vazquez v. Bostock, 183 F.4th 1160, 1165 (9th Cir. July 30, 2026). This court has previously addressed claims where noncitizens were re-detained after being released from immigration custody (see, e.g., Selis Tinoco v. Noem, 818 F. Supp. 3d 1141 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 14, 2025); Labrador-Prato v. Noem, 815 F. Supp. 3d 1113 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 2, 2025); D.L.C. v. Wofford, 1:25-cv-01996-DC-JDP, 2026 WL 25511 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 5, 2026)), and where noncitizens were detained by immigration authorities for the first time after having lived in the United States for an extended period of time (See e.g., Alvarez Maciel v. Noem, No. 1:26-cv-01318-DC-CKD, 2026 WL 496948 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 23, 2026); Barajas Ortiz v. Chestnut, No. 1:26-cv-01167-DC-SCR, 2026 WL 508419 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 24, 2026)). Respondents shall file an Opposition or Statement of Non-Opposition to the 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order by 12:00 PM on 10/28/2026. In their response, Respondents shall indicate whether Petitioner has previously been released from immigration custody, and shall substantively address whether there are any factual or legal issues in this case that materially distinguish it from Rodriguez Vazquez and this court's applicable orders cited above. Petitioner may file a Reply by 11/12/2026. Finally, the court is contemplating ruling directly on the 1 Petition, with the understanding that the court will also consider any arguments made and exhibits submitted in support of the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order. See A.R. v. Chestnut, No. 1:26-cv-00551-KES-SAB, 2026 WL 227112, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 28, 2026) (considering preliminary injunction and merits of habeas petition simultaneously). Both parties shall address whether they oppose the court ruling directly on the Petition. Respondents are further directed to include in their response: (i) the detention authority identified by or relied upon by the detaining agency at the time of detention; (ii) all documentation and evidence verifying that basis for detention and reflecting the steps the detaining agency took to comply with the procedural requirements of that detention authority; and (iii) all documentation, if any, reflecting whether and when Petitioner received notice of that basis for detention. The matter is not set for a hearing though the court may set one should it later be determined that a hearing is necessary. (Text Only Entry) (Deputy Clerk CRS) (Entered: 10/26/2026)

#5

Oct 26, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Jonathan Williams, GOVT for Todd Blanche (Williams, Jonathan) (Entered: 10/26/2026)

Oct 26, 2026

Service by Mail

Oct 26, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: Minute Order, filed at Doc. No. 4, served on Joel Mitchell Equiluz Vilca. (Text Only Entry) (Deputy Clerk CRS)

Oct 26, 2026

Minute Order AND ~Util - Set Motion and F&R Deadlines/Hearings

#6

Oct 28, 2026

Opposition to Motion

#7

Oct 29, 2026

ORDER signed by District Judge Dena M. Coggins on 10/28/2026 GRANTING Petitioner's 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and GRANTING the 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order. Petitioner Joel Mitchell Equiluz Vilca (A# 246-265-875) shall be RELEASED IMMEDIATELY from Respondents' custody with the same conditions he was subject to immediately prior to his detention on 9/22/2026. Respondents shall not impose any additional restriction on him, such as electronic monitoring, unless that is determined to be necessary at a future pre-deprivation/custody hearing. Respondents shall RETURN all of Petitioner's documents and possessions (e.g., identification, passport, work permit, Social Security card, etc.) upon his release fro m custody. Within 3 days from the date of entry of this order, Respondents shall file a notice of compliance with this court confirming that Petitioner has been released in accordance with this order. If the government seeks to re-detain Petitioner, it must provide no less than 7 days' notice to Petitioner and must hold a pre-deprivation bond hearing before a neutral arbiter, at which Petitioner's eligibility for bond must be considered. This order does not address the circumstances in which Respondents may detain Petitioner in the event Petitioner becomes subject to an executable final order of removal and Petitioner receives notice of that final order of removal. CASE CLOSED. (cc: Central Valley Annex) (Deputy Clerk KS)

#8

Oct 29, 2026

Judgment

Oct 29, 2026

Service by Mail

#9

Oct 30, 2026

Notice of Compliance