Devilmar v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE et al

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3:26-cv-0009-JES-MSB
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
FEDLIN DEVILMAR,
Petitioner,
v.
U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT ICE; AND OTAY
MESA DETENTION CENTER
Respondents.
Case No.: 3:26-cv-0009-JES-MSB
ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
PURSUANT TO 8 U.S.C. § 2241
[ECF No. 1]
Before the Court is Petitioner Fedlin Devilmar’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. ECF No. 1. Pursuant to the Court’s Order to Show Cause,
Respondents filed a Response to the Petition. ECF No. 4.
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DISCUSSION
A. Jurisdiction
In the Response to the Petition, Respondents argue that this Court lacks jurisdiction
over this Petition because Petitioner failed to name the warden of Otay Mesa Detention
Center as a Respondent. ECF No. 4 at 2. This issue has recently addressed by the
undersigned in Guatam v. Corr. Corp of Am., No. 3:25-CV-3600-JES-DEB, 2026 WL
25846, at *2 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 5, 2026). Therefore, the Court elects to follow its reasoning in
Guatam and incorporates it by reference. 2026 WL 25846, at *2.
In light of Petitioner’s pro se status and the liberty interests at issue, the Court finds
it prudent to follow suit of its sister courts and address the Petition on the merits rather than
dismiss the Petition.
B. Petitioner is a Maldonado Bautista Class Member
Respondents acknowledged that Petitioner must be considered detained under 8
U.S.C. § 1226(a), pursuant to the final judgment entered in Maldonado Bautista v.
Santacruz, No. 5:25-CV-01873-SSS-BFM, --- F. Supp. 3d ---, 2025 WL 3289861 (C.D.
Cal. Nov. 20, 2025). Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the Petition as follows:
(1) 	The Court ORDERS Respondents to provide Petitioner with a bond
determination hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) within ten days of this
Order. At the hearing, Respondents may not deny Petitioner bond on the
basis that he is detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2); and
(2) 	Respondents are ORDERED to File a Notice of Compliance within five
days of providing Petitioner with a bond redetermination hearing,
including apprising the Court of the results of the hearing; and
(3) 	The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to CLOSE the suit after receipt of
Respondents’ Notice.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 16, 2026
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